Welder Dies of Electric Shock

A welder called off vacation to complete a rush job was electrocuted after touching the charged part of an electrode holder.

An investigation revealed that when the victim replaced the electrode, he accidentally touched the charged part of the electrode. He had been sweating, increasing conductivity.

Recommendations for arc welding:

• Wear dry, insulated gloves and protective clothing, which should be changed if it becomes damp.
• Welders must insulate themselves from the workpiece and be grounded by wearing rubber-soled shoes or standing on a dry insulated mat.
• Use fully-insulated electrode holders.
• Do not use worn, damaged, undersized or poorly-spliced cables.
• Never wrap current-carrying cables around your body.
• Never touch an energized electrode with your bare hands.
• Avoid damp working conditions.
• Turn off all equipment when not in use.
• Check to see that equipment is in excellent working order. Repair or replace damaged parts before use.