Hazards and Safety Precautions for Workers Working as Welders

Welders face a number of hazards that can be very dangerous. The exposure to welding fumes causes a number of health problems. The fumes can cause ill health when they enter the lungs, bloodstream and brain nerve cells.

Electric shock is another major hazard that a welder faces. The shock can lead to serious injury or even death. Due to the extreme temperature that welding creates, there is significant risk of fire and explosion in the workplace. The intense heat created near the arc and the heat, sparks and spatter created by the arc can result in fire. Not using personal protective equipment or insufficient personal protective equipment can result in injuries and burns. Burns are the most common type of welding injury.

Safety of the welders is the most important consideration of any project. Spreading awareness of the most common hazards in welding and educating and equipping the welders to avoid the hazards will help in creating a safe and productive work place. The most important aspects of safety is the right personal protective equipment and the right training. Wearing the right personal protective equipment not only protects the welder from injuries and burns, but also helps in freedom of movement. Accidents mostly occur due to carelessness and lack of knowledge of the products. The next important step is to read and understand the safe data sheets provided by the manufacturers and have a thorough knowledge of the products and the safety precautions related to them. Only approved welding equipment which are kept in good condition should be used. When not in use the equipment should be disconnected from the source of power to avoid electric shocks. If the equipments are portable, they should be placed in such a way that they do not hinder movement of the workers and thus avoid accidents. Following a few simple rules and tips will help in avoiding big hazards.