Shop Safety
(Warning…Graphic)
Roni Crow
Richland High School
Burns
• Most common and painful injury that occurs
in welding fabrication
• Can be caused by hot welding material or by
ultraviolet rays
• Chance of infection is high because of the
dead tissue
Burns
• 1st Degree Burns– Surface of skin is reddish in color, tender, and
painful and does not involve broken skin
– Treatment: Immediately put burned area under
cold water or apply cold water compress (not ice).
Cover the areal with sterile bandages or a clean
cloth.
First Degree Burn
Burns
• Second-degree burns:
– Have occurred when the surface of the skin is
severely damaged, resulting in the formation of
blisters and possible breaks in the skin.
– Treatment: Put under cold water, dry area with a
CLEAN towel and cover with a sterile bandage or
clean cloth to prevent infection. Seek medical
attention. If around nose or mouth, or involve
singed nasal hair, breathing problems may
develop.
Second Degree Burn
Burns
• Third-degree burns
– Surface of the skin and possible the tissue below
the skin appear white or charred. Initially little
pain is present because nerve endings have been
destroyed. Do NOT remove any clothes that are
stuck to the burn. Do NOT put ice water or ice on
burns, could cause shock.
Burns
• Third-degree burns:
– Breathing difficulties are common with burns
around the face, neck, mouth.
– Treatment: Place a cold cloth on burns of the face,
hands or feet to cool burned areas. Call for
ambulance immediately; even people with small
third-degree burns need medical attention.
Third Degree Burns
Burns
• Some burns are caused by LIGHT!!
– Ultraviolet Light: can cause first and second
degree burns to the eyes or exposed skin. You
may not feel it at the time. Flash burns can occur
in seconds. UV light can pass through loosely
woven clothing, thin clothing, light colored
clothing, and damaged equipment.
Burns
– Infrared Light: Light wave is felt as heat. It causes
burns, but person will immediately feel this type
of light and avoid it!
– Visible Light: Light that we see. Too much visible
light may cause temporary night blindness. It is
not hazardous though.
Eye and Ear Protection
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Safety Glasses
Goggles
Full Face Shield
Flash Glasses
Welding Helmets
Earmuffs
Earplugs
Safety Glasses
• Need to have side
shields
• Are worn ANY time you
are in the shop
• Protect your eyes from
flying debris
Goggles
• Ours have #5 lenses to
protect eyes
• Used ANY time you are
using/looking at light
from Oxyacetylene
cutting or welding
Welding Helmet
• Protects eyes from
welding light caused by
arc welders, and have
#10 lenses.
• Ours are autodarkening, so they
should immediately
darken upon striking an
arc.
• Worn ANY time around
arc welding.
Or don’t wear eye protection…
Eye and Ear Protection
• Earplugs:
– Worn in the ear canal to protect ears against
hearing damage.
• Earmuffs:
– Cover the outer ear completely to protect against
hearing damage. This type of protection can keep
the ears from getting burned.
Respiratory Protection
• All welding and cutting processes produce
undesirable by-products, such as harmful
dusts, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays or
vapors.
• Prevent the collection of these within the
work atmosphere.
• IF this is not possible, employers are required
by law to provide respirators.
Respiratory Protection
• We will keep the large
door open when
working in the shop,
keep the fan on, and
use fume extractors
Respiratory Protection
• CAUTION:
– Welding or cutting must never be performed on
drums, barrels, tanks, vessels, or other
containers until they have been emptied and
cleaned thoroughly, eliminating all flammable
materials and all substances (such as detergents,
solvents, greases, tars, or acids) that might
produce flammable, toxic, or explosive vapors
when heated.
Respiratory Protection
• Extreme caution must be taken to avoid the
fumes produced when welding is done on
dirty or used metal. Any chemicals that are
on the metal will become mixed with the
welding fumes, a combination that can be
extremely hazardous. All metal must be
cleaned before welding to avoid this
potential problem.
MSDS
• Material safety data
sheets should be kept
on all chemicals that
could be considered
hazardous.
Waste Disposal
• Make sure and put ALL
metal slag, including
any metal swept off of
the floor, into the metal
waste barrel.
Ladder Safety
• Never climb a ladder
alone, make sure you
have someone hold the
ladder.
• Make sure and read the
ladder rules posted by the
manufacturer.
• Straight ladders should be
a quarter of the height to
the point of support away
from base.
Ladder Safety
(Basic Rules)
• Do not exceed the
manufacturer’s
recommended weight
limit.
• Make sure you set it up
on an even surface.
• Never use in a wet or
muddy area where mud
could be tracked up steps.
• Tie the ladder securely in
place.
• Climb and descend
cautiously.
• Do not carry tools or
supplies in your hands
while climbing.
• Never use around live
electrical wires.
• Never use one too short
so that you have to stand
on the top and reach.
• Wear well fitted shoes.
Electrical Safety
• Injuries, and even DEATH, can be caused by
electric shock unless proper precautions are
taken.
• Most welding/cutting operations involve
electrical equipment.
• Most is equipment in the shop is powered by
AC or alternating-current sources ranging from
115-460 volts.
Electrical Safety
• Most electric shock in
the welding industry
does not occur from
contact with welding
electrode holders but as
a result of accidental
contact with bare or
poorly insulated
conductors.
Electrical Safety
• Electrical resistance goes down under the
presence of water or moisture (including
perspiration).
• Make sure the workpiece being welded and
the frame of the machine are connected to a
good electrical ground.
• Check cables periodically for damage.
Electrical Safety
• NEVER allow the metal parts of electrodes or
electrode holders to touch the skin or wet
coverings on the body.
• ALWAYS wear dry gloves in good condition.
• Rubber soled shoes are advisable.
• TURN OFF and UNPLUG welders when not on
use.
Electrical Safety
• Make sure volts on machine match volt output
of the plugs you’re using!
• When using extension cords on portable
power tools, make sure the size of the
conductors are large enough to prevent an
excessive drop in voltage (lowering of the
voltage at the power tool from that of the
voltage at the supply.
• Chart on pg 29 of the text for extension cords
General Rules for Power Tools
• Know how to safely use the tool you are using.
• Ground the tool unless it is double insulated.
• Do not expose the power tool to rain or use in
wet locations.
• Because of SPARK risk, never start a power
tool around flammable gasses/liquids.
• Do not force a tool, operate at rate it was
designed for.
General Rules for Power Tools
• Use the right tool for the job.
• Wear eye protectors.
• Wear a face or dust mask if operation will
create dust.
• Take care of the power cords!! Never carry by
cord or unplug by the cord.
• Secure your work with clamps.
• Do not overreach when using power tools.
General Rules for Power Tools
• Maintain power tools. Replace all worn, broken,
or lost parts immediately.
• Disconnect from power source when not in use.
• Make sure keys/wrenches are removed before
operating.
• Avoid accidental starting
• Be sure parts are all attached securely.
• Give undivided attention when operating.
Power Tools, cont.
• Never use a
grinding stone
with a higher
rated RPM. If they
are turned too
fast, they can
explode causing
injury or death.
Power Tools, cont.
• Always direct sparks
down and away from
other welders and
equipment.
• Clamp any work down
before using tools.
• Nail guns fire nails at
the rate of a gun, so
always treat them
accordingly.
• Always clamp metal
before cutting with any
of the saws.
• Don’t use any tools you
haven’t been instructed
to use.
Appropriate Dress
Make a list of all
of the things
this welder is
wearing for
protection
against injury
or burns.
Handling/Storing Cylinders
• Always store full oxygen
and fuel cylinders at
least 20 feet apart or
with a 5 ft wall in
between.
• Chain cylinders securely
to the wall or to a cart.
• Keep away from heat
source.
FIRRRREEE!!!
• There are four different types
of fire extinguishers, each
designed to put out fires on
certain types of materials
• Type A, B,C, and D
FIRRRREEE!!!
FIRRRREEE!!!
• PASS is the acronym
that helps you
remember how to
operate a fire
extinguisher.
• It stands for Point, Aim,
Squeeze, and Sweep.
Work Area
• Always make sure the work area is swept and
kept clean and tidy.
• The shop will be checked DAILY before I
dismiss you, and I will give you plenty of time
to clean. So do it right!! 
Hand Tools
• The adjustable
wrench is the
most popular
hand tool used
by the welder.
Hand Tools
• The mushroomed heads
of chisels, punches, and
the faces of hammers
should be ground off.
• Chisels and punches
that are going to be hit
harder than a tap
should be held in a
chisel holder to avoid
hand injury.
Hand Tools
• A handle should be
placed on the tang of a
file in order to avoid
injuring your hand.
Hand Tools
• Check to see that the handle is tight before
using any hammer.
• Discard or repair any tool if the face shows
excessive wear.
• Always strike a hammer squarely.
• Never use one hammer to strike another
hammer.
• Do not use the end of the handle of any tool
for tamping or prying. It might split.
Handling Materials
• Always lift
with your
legs and not
your back
Handling Materials
• When moving a load overhead, stay out of the
way of the load in case it falls.
• Hoists and cranes:
– Stand to one side or the other of any ropes,
chains, or cables. If they break and snap back,
they will miss you.
RED=Danger
• Red is used to identify
areas or items of danger or
emergency such as safety
switches and fire
equipment.
Orange=Warning
• Orange is used to designate
machine hazards such as edges
and openings. Orange is also used
as background for electrical
switches, levers, and controls.
Yellow=Caution
• Yellow, like the amber traffic light, means to
be cautious. It is used to identify parts of
machines, such as wheels, levers, and knobs
that control or adjust the machine. Yellow and
black stripes are used in combination to mark
stairs, protruding objects, and other stationary
hazards.
Blue=Information
• Blue is used for signs if a warning or
caution is intended. Such signs are
made of white letters on blue
background and carry messages such
as “OUT OF ORDER” or “DO NOT
OPERATE”.
Green=Safety
• Safety green is a special shade
of green and indicates the
presence of safety equipment,
safety areas, first aid, and
medical practice.
Black and Yellow Diagonal Stripes=
Radioactivity
• A black and yellow diagonal
striped pattern is
designated as the marking
for radiation hazards.
White
• White is used to mark off traffic
areas. White arrows indicate
direction of traffic. White lines also
mark work areas around objects in
the shop. Yellow may be used in
place of white to mark areas and
lanes.
White and Black Stripes
• White and black in
alternate strips or checkers
are traffic markings. An
example of such use is to
mark traffic-stopping
barricades.
Gray
• Gray is used on floors of work areas in the
shop. It is a restful color and provides good
contrast for other safety colors. It is used to
paint body areas of machines and may be
used on the table tops if painting is desired.
EMERGENCY
•In any case of
emergency, you call me
and I will decide what
the next course of action
is.
References
• Thompson’s Metal Fabrication: Technology for
Agriculture. 2004 Edition.