Power
Tool Safety Summary
Welding
Safety Summary
AIR COMPRESSORS, POWER TOOLS, AND WELDING SAFETY SUMMARY
1. Know your air compressors and tools. Read the manual carefully. Learn the air compressors’ and tools’ applications and limitations, as well as specific potential hazards peculiar to it.
2.
Ground all air compressors and tools. Many air compressors and tools are “Double Insulated,” meaning that all outside metal parts are insulated from electrical power. Double Insulated tools are equipped with a polarized plug. This plug will fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install a polarized outlet. Do not attempt to circumvent this safety feature.
3.
Always check to make sure that the trigger is
not on before plugging tool in. Tools may cause
damage to property or person if plugged in while
on.
4.
Avoid body contact with grounded surfaces such
as pipes, radiators, ranges, and refrigerators.
There is an increased risk of electric shock
if your body is grounded.
5.
Do not expose air compressors or tools to moisture. Don’t use tools in damp or wet locations. Keep air compressors and tools out of rain.
6.
Do not abuse cord. Never use the cord to carry
tools or pull the plug from an outlet. Keep
cord away from heat, sharp edges or moving parts.
Replace damaged cords immediately. Damaged cords
increase the risk of electric shock.
7.
Remove adjusting keys or wrenches before turning
tools on. A wrench or key that is left attached
to a moving part of a tool may result in personal
injury.
8.
Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered
or dark work areas invite accidents.
9.
Keep children away. All children should be kept
away from the work area. Never let a child handle
a tool without strict adult supervision.
10.
Do not operate a tool if under the influence
of alcohol or drugs. Read warning labels on
prescriptions to determine if your judgment
or reflexes are impaired while taking drugs.
If there is any doubt, do not attempt to operate.
11.
Use safety equipment. Eye protection should
be worn at all times when operating the tool.
Use ANSI approved safety glasses. Everyday eyeglasses
are NOT safety glasses. Dust mask, non-skid
safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection
should be used in appropriate conditions.
12.
Wear proper apparel. Loose clothing, gloves,
neckties, rings, bracelets, or other jewelry
may present a potential hazard when operating
this tool. Keep all apparel clear of the tool.
13.
Don’t overreach. Keep proper footing and
balance at all times when operating your tool.
14.
Always disconnect the tool from power source
before making any adjustments, storing, servicing,
or changing accessories. Such preventative safety
measures reduce the risk of starting the tool
accidentally.
15.
Use clamps or other practical means to secure
and support the work piece to a stable platform.
Holding the work by hand or against your body
may lead to a loss of control.
16.
Do not start tool while tool is in contact with
work materials. Always turn tool on BEFORE coming
in contact with material surface.
17.
Do not force tool. Use the correct tool for
your application. The correct tool will do the
job better and safer at the rate for which it
was designed.
18.
Do not use the tool if the switch does not turn
it on and off. Any tool that cannot be controlled
with the switch is dangerous and must be repaired.
19.
Check for damage. Check your tool regularly.
If part of the tool is damaged it should be
carefully inspected to make sure that it can
perform its’ intended function correctly.
If in doubt, the part should be repaired. Refer
all servicing to a qualified technician. Consult
your dealer for advice.
20.
Keep away from flammables. Do not attempt to
operate this tool near flammable materials or
combustibles. Failure to comply may cause serious
injury or death.
21.
Do not set tool down until it has come to a
complete stop.
22.
Keep hands clear of moving parts.
23.
Store idle tools out of the reach of children
and untrained persons. Tools may be dangerous
in the hands of untrained users.
24.
Maintain tools with care. Keep tools sharp and
clean. Properly maintained tools, with sharp
cutting edges, are less likely to bind and are
easier to control.
25.
Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when
performing an operation where the tool may contact
hidden wiring or its own cord. Contact with
a live wire will make exposed metal parts of
the tool “live” and could shock
the operator.
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WELDING
SAFETY SUMMARY
Every craftsman respects the tools with which
they work. They know that the tools represent
years of constantly improved designs and developments.
The true craftsman also knows that tools are
dangerous if misused or abused.
Reading
this operator’s manual before using the
welder will enable you to do a better, safer
job. Learn the welder’s applications and
limitations as well as the specific potential
hazards peculiar to welding.
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IMPORTANT
SAFETY INFORMATION
The
following safety information is provided as
guidelines to help you operate your new welder
under the safest possible conditions. Any equipment
that uses electrical power can be potentially
dangerous to use when safety or safe handling
instructions are not known or not followed.
The following safety information is provided
to give the user the information necessary for
safe use and operation.
A
procedure step preceded by a WARNING is an indication
that the next step contains a procedure that
might be injurious to a person if proper safety
precautions are not heeded.
A
procedure preceded by a CAUTION is an indication
that the next step contains a procedure that
might damage the equipment being used.
A NOTE may be used before or after a procedure
step to highlight or explain something in that
step.
READ
ALL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY before attempting
to install, operate, or service this welder.
Failure to comply with these instructions could
result in personal injury and/or property damage.
RETAIN
THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Note:
•
The following safety alert symbols identify
important safety messages in this manual.
• When you see one of the symbols shown
here, be alert to the possibility of personal
injury and carefully read the message that
follows.
This symbol indicates that the possibility of
electric shock hazard exists during the operation
of the step(s) that follow.
This symbol indicates that the possibility of
fire hazard exists during the operation of the
step(s) that follow.
This symbol indicates that the helmet must be
worn during the step(s) that follow to protect
against eye damage and burns due to flash hazard.
This symbol indicates that the possibility of
toxic gas hazard exists during operation of
the step(s) that follow.
This
symbol indicates that the possibility of being
burned by hot slag exists during operation of
the step(s) that follow.
This symbol indicates that the eye protection
should be worn to protect against flying debris
in the following step(s).
•
Published standards on safety are available.
They are listed in ADDITIONAL SAFETY INFORMATION
at the end of this SAFETY SUMMARY.
The
National Electrical Code, Occupation Safety
and Health Act regulations, local industrial
codes and local inspection requirements also
provide a basis for equipment installation,
use, and service.
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SHOCK
HAZARDS
WARNING
ELECTRIC
SHOCK CAN KILL! To reduce the risk of death
or serious injury from shock, read, understand,
and follow the following safety instructions.
In addition, make certain that anyone else who
uses this welding equipment, or who is a bystander
in the welding area understands and follows
these safety instructions as well.
• Important! To reduce the risk of death,
injury, or property damage, do not attempt
operation of this welding equipment until
you have read and understand the following
safety summary.
• Do not, in any manner, come into physical
contact with any part of the welding current
circuit. The welding current circuit includes:
a.
the work piece or any conductive material
in contact with it,
b.
the ground clamp,
c. the electrode or welding wire,
d. any metal parts on the electrode holder,
or wire feed gun.
•
Do not weld in a damp area or come in contact
with a moist or wet surface.
• Do not attempt to weld if any part
of clothing or body is wet.
• Do not allow the welding equipment
to come in contact with water or moisture.
• Do not drag welding cables, wire feed
gun, or welder power cord through or allow
them to come into contact with water or moisture.
• Do not touch welder, attempt to turn
welder on or off if any part of the body or
clothing is moist or if you are in physical
contact with water or moisture.
• Do not attempt to plug the welder
into the power source if any part of body
or clothing is moist, or if you are in physical
contact with water or moisture.
• Do not connect welder work piece clamp
to or weld on electrical conduit.
• Do not alter power cord or power cord
plug in any way.
• Do not attempt to plug the welder
into the power source if the ground prong
on power cord plug is bent over, broken off,
or missing.
• Do not allow the welder to be connected
to the power source or attempt to weld if
the welder, welding cables, welding site,
or welder power cord are exposed to any form
of atmospheric precipitation, or salt water
spray.
• Do not carry coiled welding cables
around shoulders, or any other part of the
body, when they are plugged into the welder.
• Do not modify any wiring, ground connections,
switches, or fuses in this welding equipment.
• Wear welding gloves to help insulate
hands from welding circuit.
• Keep all liquid containers far enough
away from the welder and work area so that
if spilled, the liquid can not possibly come
in contact with any part of the welder or
electrical welding circuit.
• Replace any cracked
or damaged parts that are insulated or act
as insulators such as welding cables, power
cord, or electrode holder IMMEDIATELY.
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FLASH
HAZARDS
WARNING
ARC
RAYS CAN INJURE EYES AND BURN SKIN! To reduce
the risk of injury from arc rays, read, understand,
and follow the following safety instructions.
In addition, make certain that anyone else that
uses this welding equipment, or is a bystander
in the welding area understands and follows
these safety instructions as well. Headshields
and filter should conform to ANSI Z87.1 standards.
•
Do not look at an electric arc without proper
protection. A welding arc is extremely bright
and intense and, with inadequate or no eye
protection, the retina can be burned, leaving
a permanent dark spot in the field of vision.
A shield or helmet with a number 10 shade
filter lens (minimum) must be used.
• Do not strike a welding arc until
all bystanders and you (the welder) have welding
shields and/or helmets in place.
• Do not wear a cracked or broken helmet
and replace any cracked or broken filter lenses
IMMEDIATELY.
• Do not allow the uninsulated portion
of the wire feed gun to touch the ground clamp
or grounded work to prevent an arc flash from
being created on contact.
• Provide bystanders with shields or
helmets fitted with a #10 shade filter lens.
• Wear protective clothing. The intense
light of the welding arc can burn the skin
in much the same way as the sun, even through
light-weight clothing. Wear dark clothing
of heavy material. The shirt worn should be
long sleeved and the collar kept buttoned
to protect chest and neck.
• Protect against REFLECTED
ARC RAYS. Arc rays can be reflected off shiny
surfaces such as a glossy painted surface,
aluminum, stainless steel, and glass. It is
possible for your eyes to be injured by reflected
arc rays even when wearing a protective helmet
or shield. If welding with a reflective surface
behind you, arc rays can bounce off the surface,
then off the filter lens on the inside of
your helmet or shield, then into your eyes.
If a reflective background exists in your
welding area, either remove it or cover it
with something non-flammable and non-reflective.
Reflective arc rays can also cause skin burn
in addition to eye injury.
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FIRE
HAZARDS
WARNING
FIRE
OR EXPLOSION CAN CAUSE DEATH, INJURY, AND PROPERTY
DAMAGE! To reduce the risk of death, injury,
or property damage from fire or explosion, read,
understand, and follow the following safety
instructions. In addition, make certain that
anyone else that uses this welding equipment,
or is a bystander in the welding area, understands
and follows these safety instructions as well.
REMEMBER! Arc welding by nature produces sparks,
hot spatter, molten metal drops, hot slag, and
hot metal parts that can start fires, burn skin,
and damage eyes.
•
Do not wear gloves or other clothing that
contains oil, grease, or other flammable substances.
•
Do not wear flammable hair preparations.
• Do not weld in an area until it is
checked and cleared of combustible and/or
flammable materials. BE AWARE that sparks
and slag can fly 35 feet and can pass through
small cracks and openings. If work and combustibles
cannot be separated by a minimum of 35 feet,
protect against ignition with suitable, snug-fitting,
fire resistant, covers or shields.
• Do not weld on walls until checking
for and removing combustibles touching the
other side of the walls.
• Do not weld, cut, or perform other
such work on used barrels, drums, tanks, or
other containers that had contained a flammable
or toxic substance. The techniques for removing
flammable substance and vapors, to make a
used container safe for welding or cutting,
are quite complex and require special education
and training.
• Do not strike an arc on a compressed
gas or air cylinder or other pressure vessel.
Doing so will create a brittle area that can
result in a violent rupture immediately or
at a later time as a result of rough handling.
• Do not weld or cut in an area where
the air may contain flammable dust (such as
grain dust), gas, or liquid vapors (such as
gasoline).
• Do not handle hot metal, such as the
work piece or electrode stubs, with bare hands.
• Wear leather gloves, heavy long sleeve
shirt, cuffless trousers, high-topped shoes,
helmet, and cap. As necessary, use additional
protective clothing such as leather jacket
or sleeves, fire resistant leggings, or apron.
Hot sparks or metal can lodge in rolled up
sleeves, trouser cuffs, or pockets. Sleeves
and collars should be kept buttoned and pockets
eliminated from the shirt front.
• Have fire extinguisher equipment handy
for immediate use! A portable chemical fire
extinguisher, type ABC, is recommended.
• Wear ear plugs when welding overhead
to prevent spatter or slag from falling into
ear.
• Make sure welding area has a good,
solid, safe floor, preferably concrete or
masonry, not tiled, carpeted, or made of any
other flammable material.
• Protect flammable walls, ceilings,
and floors with heat resistant covers or shields.
• Check welding area
to make sure it is free of sparks, glowing
metal or slag, and flames before leaving the
welding area.
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FUME
HAZARDS
WARNING
FUMES,
GASSES, AND VAPORS CAN CAUSE DISCOMFORT, ILLNESS,
AND DEATH! To reduce the risk of discomfort,
illness, or death, read, understand, and follow
the following safety instructions. In addition,
make certain that anyone else that uses this
welding equipment or is a bystander in the welding
area, understands and follows these safety instructions
as well.
•
Do not weld in an area until it is checked
for adequate ventilation as described in ANSI
standard #Z49.1. If ventilation is not adequate
to exchange all fumes and gasses generated
during the welding process with fresh air,
do not weld unless you (the welder) and all
bystanders are wearing air-supplied respirators.
• Do not heat metals coated with, or
that contain, materials that produce toxic
fumes (such as galvanized steel), unless the
coating is removed. Make certain the area
is well ventilated, and the operator and all
bystanders are wearing air-supplied respirators.
• Do not weld, cut, or heat lead, zinc,
cadmium, mercury, beryllium, or similar metals
without seeking professional advice and inspection
of the ventilation of the welding area. These
metals produce EXTREMELY TOXIC fumes which
can cause discomfort, illness, and death.
• Do not weld or cut in areas that are
near chlorinated solvents. Vapors from chlorinated
hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene and
perchloroethylene, can be decomposed by the
heat of an electric arc or its ultraviolet
radiation. These actions can cause PHOSGENE,
a HIGHLY TOXIC gas to form, along with other
lung and eye-irritating gasses. Do not weld
or cut where these solvent vapors can be drawn
into the work area or where the ultraviolet
radiation can penetrate to areas containing
even very small amounts of these vapors.
• Do not weld in a confined area unless
it is being ventilated or the operator (and
anyone else in the area) is wearing an air-supplied
respirator.
• Stop welding if you
develop momentary eye, nose, or throat irritation
as this indicates inadequate ventilation.
Stop work and take necessary steps to improve
ventilation in the welding area. Do not resume
welding if physical discomfort persists.
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ADDITIONAL
SAFETY INFORMATION
For
additional information concerning welding safety,
refer to the following standards and comply
with them as applicable.
•
ANSI Standard Z49.1 – SAFETY IN WELDING
AND CUTTING – obtainable from the American
Welding Society, 550 NW Le Jeune Road, Miami,
FL 33126 Telephone (800) 443-9353, Fax (305)
443-7559 – www.amweld.org or www.aws.org
•
ANSI Standard Z87.1 – SAFE PRACTICE
FOR OCCUPATION AND EDUCATIONAL EYE AND FACE
PROTECTION – obtainable from the American
National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd
St., New York, NY 10036 Telephone (212) 642-4900,
Fax (212) 398-0023 – www.ansi.org
•
NFPA Standard 51B – CUTTING AND WELDING
PROCESS – obtainable from the National
Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch
Park, P.O. Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269-9101
Telephone (617) 770-3000 Fax (617) 770-0700
– www.nfpa.org
• OSHA Standard 29 CFR, Part 1910, Subpart
Q., WELDING, CUTTING AND BRAZING – obtainable
from your state OSHA office or U.S. Dept.
of Labor OSHA, Office of Public Affairs, Room
N3647, 200 Constitution Ave., Washington,
DC 20210 – www.osha.gov
•
CSA Standard W117.2 – Code for SAFETY
IN WELDING AND CUTTING. – obtainable
from Canadian Standards Association, 178 Rexdale
Blvd., Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 1R3 –
www.csa.ca
•
American Welding Society Standard A6.0. WELDING
AND CUTTING CONTAINERS WHICH HAVE HELD COMBUSTIBLES.
– obtainable from the American Welding
Society, 550 NW Le Jeune Road, Miami, FL 33126
Telephone (800) 443-9353, Fax (305) 443-7559
– www.amweld.org or www.aws.org
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