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Common Welding Hazards and How to Avoid Them

Admin • Dec 13, 2021
Welding Service — San Diego, CA — Sam's Welding Inc.

Like most industrial fields, welding poses various dangers to operators and other workers. The good news is that most of the hazards associated with welding can be avoided if well understood. Knowing and understanding common welding hazards is a good way to protect operators and other workers from danger. In this piece, we will outline common welding hazards as well as how you can stay safe. Welding hazards Welding hazards vary between their causes and the form in which they occur. For you to have a better understanding, let's look at common welding hazards in detail. Electric Shock Electric shocks are common during welding and can lead to severe injuries or even death. Electric shocks occur when a welder touches two metal objects with high current flow. The live current used to melt metals is quite high and can be fatal if conducted through the human body. Injuries result directly from electric shocks as well as from the confusion and loss of balance after being shocked. Fumes and Gases Every type of welding emits different gas combinations. The most common of these gases are carbon monoxide, nitrogen, hydrogen fluoride, arsenic, lead, and aluminum. Exposure to these fumes could lead to eye, nose, and throat problems. Long-term exposure to fumes may lead to adverse health effects such as nervous system damage, respiratory illnesses, cancer, stomach ulcers, and kidney damage. Fires Fires and explosions in welding workshops are quite common. Welding generates sparks that travel almost 35 feet . If these sparks land on flammable materials, a fire could start, or, even worse, an explosion may take place. Workers with grease-soiled gear are at a greater risk of burning in case a fire breaks out. Electric welding arcs are also known to lead to skin burns if they land on welders' skin. The burning effect results from ultraviolet radiation produced by the electric welding arcs.
Physical Hazards Welding poses some basic physical hazards that are associated with the working environment. These physical hazards during welding include welding equipment falling on welders, operators falling on sharp objects, and operators slipping and falling while working on high ground. Physical hazards may lead to cuts, crushed fingers, toes, burns, eye damage, and broken bones. Tips on Staying Safe Welding can be very dangerous if you don't know how to stay safe. To make sure you are on the safe side, here are a few tips to reduce the risk of being a victim of the discussed hazards. Acquire Proper Training Welders who have been trained are by far safer than untrained apprentices are. Training sessions include how you can keep yourself safe while welding, which is crucial in reducing risks. Wear Protective Gear Putting on the right gear when welding will protect you from most, if not all, of the welding hazards. Inspect Equipment and Your Working Area Faulty welding equipment could trigger some of the hazards. Ensuring your equipment is in working order and your working area is in the right condition will help keep you safe. Go for Regular Medical Check-Ups Understanding your health and Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) will help you keep yourself safe from intoxication by the gases and fumes. Adhere to Fire Safety Regulations The law requires every building to have a fire extinguisher. Since welding workshops are at higher risks of fire breakouts, having more fire extinguishers placed in strategic positions could help keep everyone safe. A fire detection system would also be efficient. Follow Basic Workshop Rules Always follow basic procedures and rules while welding or working in a welding workshop for maximum safety. A lot of things could go wrong during welding. Understanding the various welding hazards that exist enables you to keep yourself and others safe. To be a better welder and minimize the risk of being a victim of any welding hazards, make sure to follow the safety precautions highlighted in this blog. At Sam's Welding, Inc , we understand these hazards and take the necessary precautions to avoid them. Contact us today to fulfill your welding needs.

By Admin 22 May, 2023
Most Popular Types of Welding
By Admin 22 May, 2023
Are you hiring a welder to get something fabricated or repaired? Sam's Welding Inc. offers the following types of welding in El Cajon: Gas metal arc welding. Perhaps the most popular of them all, this method is also known by its abbreviations GMAW or MIG, for metal inert gas. It’s an average of five times faster than electrical arc methods and includes four material transfer options: spray, pulsed spray, globular and short circuiting. Shielded metal arc welding. A form of stick welding commonly known as SMAW, this process uses electrical current to form an arc between the rod and metals in production. Uses include industrial fabrication such as the construction of iron and steel structures. Gas tungsten arc welding. This method is known as TIG or GTAW and requires the most skill, as heat is continuously regulated by means of a foot pedal. If amperage is set too high, you can end up burning holes in the metal. If it’s too low, the weld won’t flow properly. It’s especially useful for combining thick pieces of stainless steel and ironless metals. Flux-cored arc welding. Unlike MIG and TIG, FCAW keeps contamination out by means of a flux. This process doesn’t require a shielding gas, can be done outdoors and is quite efficient. Working with different positions such as horizontal, vertical and tee joints requires different machine configurations. Serving San Diego, CA Whether you need several hundred pieces or just one, we’re happy to take on the project for you. We are combat veteran owned and have more than two decades of experience handling military projects with success. We serve El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, and the entire county. We have expertise with the design and fabrication of gates and fences. You’re welcome to walk into our San Diego shop or call us anytime at 619-281-2709 .
By Admin 22 May, 2023
Whether you have some new projects lined up to modify and enhance your home or there are some significant repairs that need to be done to some of the metalwork, you want to have a professional metal welder on the job. There are numerous specific instances in which having welding done by a certified military group such as Sam’s Welding Inc. in El Cajon is worth your investment. Perhaps you need a car welder to perform some precise car part welding or you need to ensure the safety of a premises with some security door welding . Of course, not everything that involves metal fabrication or repair is on a large scale. More often than not, welding is needed for smaller things that see use on a daily basis, such as: Staircases Hand railings Gates Fences As far as stairs are concerned, our professionals can help with anything from a new hand railing to a completely new and complex spiral staircase. Even if the work needs to be done outside on fences and gates where the materials need to be more durable, our nearly four decades of experience in the field have given us the knowledge of how to complete jobs in a way that is both aesthetically pleasing and keeps you and your loved ones safe. Serving El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee Metalwork, whether it is basic framing or a more elaborate fence job, has a large impact on our lives every day. Therefore, when the time comes in which you decide to invest in modifications, fabrications, or repairs, you’d better be sure that you have qualified people doing the work. That’s what you’ll get when you call Sam’s Welding at 619-281-2709 . If you live in El Cajon, La Mesa or Santee, ask about our walk-in and mobile services to maximize our availability to you.
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