Welders & Fabricators
Welders and fabricators work in shops and in the field with fumes, UV light, sparks, electricity and heavy steel. Long-term fume exposure is a serious health risk.
- Construction
- General Industry
Top hazards
- Welding fume (manganese, hexavalent chromium, zinc); welding fume is classified as a cause of cancer
- Arc eye and skin burns from UV
- Fires from sparks and slag
- Electric shock
- Crushed hands and strains from handling steel; grinding injuries
- Noise
Key practices
- Use fume extraction and ventilation; keep your head out of the plume. See Welding & Cutting.
- Wear an auto-darkening helmet with the correct shade, safety glasses, FR clothing and leather gloves.
- Get a hot work permit in the field. See Hot Work Permits.
- Inspect leads and ground clamps; work dry.
- Use magnets, cranes and fixtures to move heavy pieces. See Rigging.
- Follow grinder rules. See Angle Grinders.
Know your metal
| Metal or coating | Fume hazard |
|---|---|
| Mild steel | Iron oxide and manganese; manganese can damage the nervous system |
| Stainless steel | Hexavalent chromium and nickel; cancer risk. See Hexavalent Chromium |
| Galvanized steel | Zinc oxide; metal fume fever (flu-like symptoms) |
| Painted or coated metal | Lead, cadmium and decomposition products; remove coatings first |
| Metal cleaned with chlorinated solvents | Can form phosgene gas under UV; keep solvents away from welding |
Field welding
- Get a hot work permit, move or cover combustibles within 35 feet, and keep a fire watch during and after welding.
- Check where sparks will fall, including through floor openings and gaps.
- Use welding screens to protect coworkers from arc flash.
- In confined spaces, use ventilation, monitor the air, and keep gas cylinders outside.
Fabrication shop
- Use cranes, magnets and fixtures for heavy pieces; keep hands out of pinch points when fitting up.
- Grinding creates sparks and flying particles. Use guards and a face shield over safety glasses. See Angle Grinders.
- Keep floors clear of slag, scrap and cords.
Start-of-shift checklist
- Fume extraction or ventilation working
- Helmet shade correct; safety glasses under the helmet
- FR clothing, leather gloves and boots on
- Leads, ground clamp and torch hoses inspected
- Cylinders secured upright with caps on when not in use
- Fire extinguisher nearby; hot work permit for field work
Standards & references
- OSHA: Welding, cutting and brazing
- ANSI Z49.1: Safety in welding, cutting and allied processes
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