Is Welding Dangerous?
As with any power tool, welders require that the user know and understand proper safety techniques and procedures. The welding arc is very hot and there are sparks associated with welding – safety equipment is always needed when welding. Gloves and proper clothing should always be worn – welding helmets with proper welding lenses are also required to protect your eyes and face from the bright arc. When welding, the work area must be checked and cleared of flammable materials. With proper respect and by following the safety procedures included with all welding equipment, welding is safe.
Compared to other industrial jobs, welding is fairly dangerous. The occupational and health hazards of welding can be avoided with proper equipment, safe materials, and a few common sense measures. Risks associated with welding include asphyxiation due to dangerous inhalants, skin and eye damage due to ultraviolet light, electrical or chemical fires, and long-term negative effects from fumes. Most people think that sparks and arcs are the most dangerous aspects of welding because they call attention to themselves, but they are only one risk. The brightness of the sparks, with their strong UV light, can cause cancer in unprotected eyes and skin. Yet there is a wide range of equipment, such as auto-darkening helmets and thick gloves, to reduce your exposure. Also, sparks are not usually hot, yet general precautions should be taken to keep wood or other combustible material out of the range of the welder’s arc. Setting heated metal on a flammable surface is more likely to start a fire. Th
Compared to other industrial jobs, welding is fairly dangerous. The occupational and health hazards of welding can be avoided with proper equipment, safe materials, and a few common sense measures. Risks associated with welding include asphyxiation due to dangerous inhalants, skin and eye damage due to ultraviolet light, electrical or chemical fires, and long-term negative effects from fumes.
