TOOLBOXTOPICS.COM
Company Name __________________________ Job Name __________________________ Date________
WELDING FIRES
0n of the worst factory fires in history was started by sparks
from a portable welding outfit, which ignited liquid in a conveyor drip pan. The
French liner, Normandie, which was being refitted to carry troops during World
War II, was destroyed by a fire when welding sparks fell into waste wood and
excelsior. An aircraft carrier fire
in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1960 was started by welding sparks and slag failing
into spilled motor fuel.
In each case, there
either was inadequate protection or no protection of the flammable material from
flame and sparks. The ships were
steel, but filled with flammable material. The factory was steel, concrete, and
glass, but contained flammable fixtures, stock, and process
material. Practically any-thing can burn and be damaged if it gets hot
enough. And there's plenty of oil, grease, and other combustible materials on
any construction site in addition to the lumber and scrap.
HOW WELDING FIRES START
Fires from welding
operations are started by sparks, hot slag, and flame from the torch. Sparks
often drop or are carried long distances by the wind. Slag falls on surfaces or
materials below. And a welding torch flame can ignite many substances within a
radius of several feet. Be familiar with the standard safety rules for welding
so you can spot and report any problems.
THE WELDERS' RESPONSIBILITY
When a welding
operation moves into a work area, it's primarily the welders' duty to guard
against fire. This means making sure there's no flammable material within range
of the flame. Wood, paper or other combustibles should be removed. The welders
also are responsible to see that no sparks or slag fall on combustible
materials. Keep extinguishing
materials, such as water or sand, on hand if you must weld near combustibles.
You may even find it necessary to assign a worker with a fire extinguisher to
stand by and put out sparks.
FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS
Welders should not
begin working in any area where there are flammable liquids before checking with
the supervisor. If you have to weld or touch any tank or drum that has contained
flammable liquids or gas, don't start
your work until an approved test shows that there's no danger of vapors present.
Don't take anyone's word that the tank or drum was tested previously. Insist on
a test just before starting your work.
COMBUSTIBLES
Where floors are
combustible, welders must place fire resistant material beneath the work area,
so that hot slag cannot contact the floor. Wood floors should be swept clean
before welding over them, and should be covered with metal or some other
material that won't burn. In some cases, it is advisable to wet the floor down.
But remember that this adds a shock hazard, which must be guarded against if you
are arc welding. Be sure there are no cracks into which sparks or slag may fall,
and never allow this hot material to fall into concealed spaces between walls
and floors.
You may have to protect
openings, such as open doorways, with a non-combustible curtain. Be sure this
curtain reaches to the floor, so that the hot slag can't roll under it. Ask
yourself also if wind can carry sparks or slag over the side and down onto
storage areas or adjacent property.
WELDING EQUIPMENT
Welders must keep
cylinders a safe distance from where they are working, which means that hoses
must be completely uncoiled. You should keep the tanks and hoses behind you,
never in front where flame, heat, or slag will strike them. Hoses must be
protected to keep trucks from running over them, and people from walking into
them or dragging things across them. Cylinders must be properly secured
when in use and the caps in place during transportation.
VENTILATION
Good ventilation is a
must for all welding operations. Many of these operations produce fumes that are
harmful in heavy concentrations, and good ventilation is the only method of
protecting yourself against this hazard. Screens
around your work must be placed so as not to prevent good air circulation.
Sometimes special ventilating equipment is necessary.
If you have any doubt about the adequacy of ventilation on a job, ask the
supervisor for his opinion. Don't weld in a small room or tank or other closed
place without first making sure the ventilation is good.
When welders leave
their equipment or stop work, they must shut off the oxygen and acetylene at the
cylinders, so that no gas can enter either hose. And, of course, the rule for
everyone except the welders is: "Hands Off All Welding Gear."
EYE PROTECTION
Eye protection is necessary on all welding jobs, and full face protection
is needed on many jobs. The type of protection you've been told to wear on your
operations has been proven necessary by experience.
Face and eye protection
are needed in many operations performed by welders besides actual cutting and
welding. That's why, for instance, electric welders need goggles as well as the
regular helmet. Any welder may have to do a good deal of chipping. And this
work, usually done with the helmet raised, can throw particles of metal into
your eyes.
Basically, however, eye
protection is designed to protect you against sparks, slag, molten metal, and
flash burns caused by radiation from the welding equipment. If you follow the
rules for wearing face and eye protection you won't have any
face and eye injuries from cutting or welding work.
EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY
Remember that preventing welding fires is everyone's responsibility, whether doing the actual welding or not.
Safety Recommendations:__________________________________________________________________________________
Job Specific Topics:_______________________________________________________________________________________
M.S.D.S Reviewed:_______________________________________________________________________________________
Attended By:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________