WELDING AND CUTTING OPERATIONS

ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 6% OF FIRES REPORTED IN INDUSTRIAL OCCUPANCIES.

THE POTENTIAL FOR WELDING / CUTTING FIRES CAN BE REDUCED BY RECOGNIZING:

1. TWO SIDES OF THE FIRE TRIANGLE ARE ALWAYS PRESENT.
2. LOCATION OF WORK PERFORMED. FIRES RARELY OCCUR WHERE WELDING / CUTTING IS NORMAL OPERATION.
3. KIND OF PROCESS USED.  CUTTING = THOUSANDS OF IGNITION SOURCES.
4. SUPERVISION AND TRAINING OF WELDERS.

THERE ARE 2 METHODS OF WELDING AND THERMAL CUTTING:  ELECTRICAL ARC AND HEAT OF A FUEL GAS COMBINED WITH OXYGEN.

ARC WELDING

THESE PROCESSES USE AN ELECTRICAL ARC AS A HEAT SOURCE FOR MELTING AND JOINING METALS.  A FILLER MATERIAL (ROD OR WIRE) MAY BE USED.

OXY-FUEL GAS WELDING

USES HEAT OF COMBUSTION OF FUEL GAS AND OXYGEN AT HIGH TEMPERATURES TO MELT THE WORKPIECE METAL AND FILLER METAL.

ACETYLENE IS THE PRINCIPAL GAS USED FOR WELDING BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE PROPERTIES.  OTHER GASES MAY BE USED - PROPANE, PROPYLENE, NATURAL GAS, ETC.

PRECAUTIONS

GUARD AGAINST HAZARDS OF HOT SPARKS, ARC RADIATION, AIR CONTAMINATION, ELECTRICAL SHOCK, CHIPPING SLAG, AND HANDLING OF COMPRESSED GASES.

OPERATIONS NOT TO TAKE PLACE IN FLAMMABLE ATMOSPHERES OR AREAS OF LARGE QUANTITY COMBUSTIBLES.

FLOOR SHOULD BE CLEAR OF COMBUSTIBLES - 35 FEET OR PROTECTED WITH FLAME PROOF COVERS.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE.  IF NECESSARY, FIRE WATCHES SHOULD BE POSTED.  MONITORING SHOULD CONTINUE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES PAST THE TIME OF COMPLETION.

PERMIT PROCESS IS BENEFICIAL.  GIVES MANAGEMENT ASSURANCE OF COMPLIANCES.  PERMIT SHOULD BE POSTED IN PLAIN SIGHT.

       
INDEX Heat

FPT 102 - Fire Prevention and Inspection // Instructor: Kevin M. Kolb        Slide #7