Hot work involves processes that generate heat, sparks, or flames, which can create risks of fire, explosion, burns, and toxic fumes. Welding, in particular, is a common form of hot work characterized by the use of high temperatures to join metals.
In this post, we’ll talk about common hot work hazards, how to prevent them, and key information you should know before you begin a welding project.
Identifying Hot Work Hazards
Many factors contribute to hot work hazards, such as the presence of flammable materials, inadequate ventilation, confined spaces, and lack of training and supervision.
In welding, common tasks such as brazing and grinding are considered hot work hazards, and since they’re necessary to complete workpieces, it is essential to learn why they’re considered threats and how you can protect yourself from being injured.
Before you begin to work, you must implement hot work safety measures to ensure there are no risks, including conducting a thorough hazard assessment to identify potential threats.
Not conducting this assessment can bring serious consequences like property damage, injuries, and loss of life.
Common Hot Work Hazards
You can encounter multiple hot work hazards while working, and depending on the task you’re completing and the surrounding environment, the risks and safety measures may vary. Let’s take a look at the most common hot work hazards in welding:
Arc Flash
Arc flash is a sudden burst of intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation generated during welding processes that can cause severe burns to exposed skin and eyes. The most important welding safety measure you should take to prevent this is the use of PPE (personal protective equipment), such as a welding helmet with UV filters and flame-resistant clothing.
Electrical Shock
One of the most common workplace accidents in the welding industry is electrical shock due to equipment operating at high voltages. To maintain industrial safety, it is critical to train workers how to handle welding equipment safely. Further, all electrical circuits must be inspected regularly to prevent malfunction and accidents.
Toxic Fumes & Gases
Arc welding generates harmful fumes and gases, such as ozone, nitrogen, and metal fumes, which can present a threat to your health if inhaled. Jobsite safety precautions include adequate ventilation and respiratory protection, specifically, respirators with appropriate filters.
Fire & Explosion
The use of open flames and sparks creates a risk of fire and explosion, particularly in environments where flammable materials and gases are present. Using cutting torches in welding is already a threat, which is why you should implement specific industrial safety measures to mitigate said risks, including removing combustible materials, proper housekeeping, and using fire-resistant shields.
Mitigating Hot Work Risks
Mitigating hot work risks requires a plan of action that takes into consideration the most common accidents, how they happen, fast and emergency-oriented responses, and safety measures to avoid all of this in the first place (when possible).
The use of PPE (personal protective equipment) is essential, and this includes flame-resistant clothing, welding helmets, and respirators. Ventilation systems, fire extinguishing equipment, and hot work permits are also key. A permit is required to ensure the location chosen to work in is safe and doesn’t present a threat in itself.
Apart from this, training programs, hazard assessments, and emergency response plans are critical to ensure workplace safety.
Regulatory Compliance
Compliance with relevant regulations and standards, such as OSHA standards and NFPA guidelines, is essential for ensuring hot work safety and minimizing legal liabilities. Employers must familiarize themselves with these regulations and implement appropriate measures to comply with their requirements.
Final Words
In this post, we talked about hot work hazards, how to identify them, and safety measures to prevent accidents in the workplace. Welding is a wonderful hobby and profession, but without proper protocols, protection equipment, and other key safety guidelines, you’re at risk of danger.
At Eureka Oxygen, one of our top priorities is to educate welding enthusiasts about common risks, how to prevent them, and how to react during an emergency. Using quality welding equipment and PPE is the number one step, and we’re proud to have a wide range of options that will suit your needs, preferences, and budget.
We also have a robust supply of cylinder gases we can deliver to your door. Check our locations to see which one is closest to you!