Employees in the construction industry face many risks every day. One of the riskiest professions in this sector is welding. So much so that research shows that 250 out of every 1 construction workers will die in a welding accident. Country Industrial Corporate Solutions Director Murat Şengül lists the 4 factors that employees in the welding profession, which is in the high risk group, should pay attention to.
Undoubtedly, the construction industry includes many endangered professions. Welders are among those who face life-threatening risks every day in this sector. A study by OSHA, the American Occupational Safety and Health Administration, reveals that 250 in every 1 construction workers will die in a welding accident, which includes other potential hazards that welders face on a daily basis, such as electrocution, burns, eye damage, cuts, or chemical exposure. It doesn't even take into account. Underlining that most of these injuries or deaths can be prevented with improved construction site safety, appropriate training, engineering controls and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, Ülke Industrial Corporate Solutions Director Murat Şengül conveys 4 precautions to be taken.
Most Common Welding Hazards and Precautions
Welding involves risks not only for the welder, but also for other workers and people around. The way to minimize accidents and injuries is to be informed about risks and precautions to be taken. Noting that welding exposes workers to the fumes of many toxic gases, Murat Şengül states that the damage will vary depending on how much exposure to these fumes is made, and that breathing these gases can lead to life-threatening consequences. Şengül also mentions that electric shock and fire hazards are the most common risks seen in welding, and points out 4 precautions to be taken against these risks.
1. Be sure to use the necessary personal protective equipment. When welders use all the necessary personal protective equipment, they can greatly reduce the risk of danger. Especially rubber-soled hard-toed boots and insulated flame-resistant gloves are among the PPEs that should be used against electric shocks. Apart from these, it is also necessary to use masks equipped with appropriate filters or a respirator to protect the respiratory system and reduce inhalation of toxic gases and fumes in case of possible danger. It is vital for welders to wear spark and fire resistant industrial clothing against fire hazard. In addition, self-darkening eye protectors and visors that protect against sparks are indispensable in the welding work areas so that the radiation generated during welding does not cause vision loss.
2. Pay attention to ventilation. Welding can expose both the practitioner and others in the vicinity to many toxic gases. In order to avoid exposure to dozens of toxic and highly harmful fumes such as arsenic, asbestos or carbon monoxide, or metal vapors and various particles, the environment should be ventilated frequently, and if the ventilation is insufficient, an approved respiratory protection should be used.
3. Make sure the equipment is dry and in good working order. Electrocution is a serious risk, especially during arc welding because live electrical circuits used to melt metals touch two metal objects with voltage between them, creating a risk of electric shock. Electric shock can cause injury to the welder or be fatal. For this reason, it should be ensured that the equipment used is dry and in good working order, suitable insulated materials such as rubber should be used, and welding equipment should be routinely inspected.
4. Take precautions against fire risks. The weld can spray sparks quite far, posing a fire risk to the work environment. A spark may come into contact with the flammable chemicals in the surrounding or the socket and the environment may suddenly catch fire. There should be a fire extinguisher nearby against the potential risk of fire, fire resistant protectors should be used, all flammable chemicals and substances should be kept as far away from the welding area as possible.
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