Welding is an area of the industry which has recorded a lot of work related injuries. There are so many hazards associated with welding and each can have longlasting effects on the worker. Fire hazards are also known to occur during welding operations and in welding sites. The American Welders Society (AWS) and Occupational Safety & Health Association have come up with welding safety procedures to protect welding workers from danger.Fire Prevention and ProtectionTo guard against fire outbreaks during a welding operation, welding activities should be moved to a safe location. However, if the object to be welded cannot be moved from its current location, the vicinity should be examined and all movable fire hazards should be removed.In the event that neither the object to be welded nor the fire hazards can be moved, guards should be used to separate the two. If it is not possible to separate the object to be welded and the fire hazards using guards, under no circumstances should the butt welding machine operation be carried out.The importance of having fire extinguishers within handy distances is paramount as this can help control any outbreak. Furthermore, fire watchers need to be put on alert while welding is going on.Welding has been taken up as a hobby by a lot of people and the recent rise in do-it-yourself projects have made it important to state that a welding operation should only be carried out by someone who has been properly trained.Protection of Welding PersonnelIn adhering to welding safety procedure, it is important to make sure that when working on platforms, scaffolds or runways, adequate protection is taken against falling. Protective clothing should be worn by all those who would be exposed to the welding operations to guard against harmful fumes, vapor and exposure to dangerous UV rays.Furthermore, welding cables and other equipment used in the welding operation should not be placed in passageways, ladders and stairways as this could obstruct passage and will constitute a potential danger to the workers.
