Is This the Right Way to Use a Welding Torch?

What’s wrong with this picture?

The Good News: He’s putting on his hard hat and hearing protection.

The Bad News: He’s chosen a bad place to put his torch so he can free up his hands.

The Moral: If I were to start a line of work safety fortune cookies, my first slogan would be:

“Only the fool fixes one safety hazard by creating another.”

WELDING SAFETY: 3 Reasons to Pay Attention

  1. Welders get killed on the job at a rate of 4 per 1,000
  2. The odds of a serious or fatal injury go way down when welders use PPE
  3. But using PPE and other welding equipment the wrong way—like the worker in the photo—actually increases the danger

WEAR THE RIGHT CLOTHING FOR WELDING

One of the best ways to protect yourself from welding hazards is by wearing the right kind of protective clothing, including:

1. Woolen clothing

2. Flame-proof aprons

3. Gloves

4. Long sleeve shirts

5. Straight legged trousers without cuffs

8 WELDING SAFETY DO’S & DON’Ts

There are 10 things to do/not do to weld safely:

  • DO check your protective equipment before each use
  • DON’T weld in clothes caked in grease and oil
  • DO follow all safe work procedures when welding
  • DON’T weld unless and until you ensure that the place is properly ventilated
  • DO keep clothing and equipment dry to avoid electric shock
  • DON’T weld near explosive chemicals or fire hazards
  • DO use proper eye and face PPE when welding
  • DON’T keep your welding torch between your knees—especially when it’s on