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Welding, Cutting and Brazing - Lincoln County, Montana · Lincoln County Welding, Cutting, Brazing and Compressed Gas Safety Safety Handout REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION DOES NOT AUTHORIZE

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Page 1: Welding, Cutting and Brazing - Lincoln County, Montana · Lincoln County Welding, Cutting, Brazing and Compressed Gas Safety Safety Handout REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION DOES NOT AUTHORIZE

Lincoln County Welding, Cutting, Brazing and Compressed Gas Safety

Safety Handout REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION DOES NOT AUTHORIZE A PERSON TO PERFORM WELDING,

CUTTING, OR BRAZING TASKS OR HANDLING OF COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS. Introduction: • Welding is the most common method of joining metals in industry today. When welded, two pieces of similar metals are fused (melted) together. Once completed, the welded joint is as strong or stronger than the pieces from which the joint is formed. • Metal Cutting is done by heating the metal with a flame, and directing a stream of pure oxygen along the line to be cut. • Brazing involves a filler metal or alloy (a combination of metals) which has a lower melting point than the metal pieces to be joined. • There are more than 80 different types of welding and associated processes. Some of the most common types of welding include: arc welding, which includes “stick” arc welding, the gas shielded methods of metal inert gas (MIG) and tungsten inert gas (TIG), and plasma arc welding. Other welding processes may use oxy-acetylene gas, electrical current, and heat from fuel gas. • Due to the nature of compressed gas cylinders, special storage and handling precautions are necessary. With their plain, nondescript exteriors, compressed gas cylinders appear quite innocent. But take a look inside, and the view is much different. In the average cylinder, acetylene packs in approximately 250 pounds of pressure per square inch, and oxygen makes up another 2,200 pounds of pressure per square inch. When mixed together, the result is a flame with a roaring fever: 6000 degrees high!

Authorization Is Required: • DO NOT ATTEMPT TO COMPLETE WELDING, CUTTING OR BRAZING TASKS OR HANDLING OF COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS UNLESS YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO DO SO. A person must have completed the appropriate training required in order to perform these tasks safely. Persons interested in obtaining this training and becoming authorized to perform these tasks should contact their supervisor. What Are The Hazards Of Welding, Cutting and Brazing? • General hazards of welding, cutting and brazing include fumes, smoke, heat and light radiation, musculoskeletal injuries, and noise. The proper personal protective equipment (PPE) can protect you from these hazards. Sparks and molten metal generated during these processes also present potential fire and explosion dangers. Other safety hazards to be aware of include potential electrical hazards, fall hazards, confined space situations and hazards associated with working with compressed gas cylinders and their contents.

What Are The Hazards Associated With Compressed Gas Cylinders? • General hazards associated with compressed gas cylinders include oxygen displacement, explosion hazards, toxic effects of some gases, as well as the physical hazards of a ruptured cylinder. Lower ignition points of some gases make fire and explosions more likely, and low boiling points of certain gases can cause frostbite.

Specific Safety Training Will Be Provided For Authorized Personnel • Personnel that are authorized to complete welding, cutting and brazing tasks and to handle and make use of compressed gas cylinders will receive more specific safety training, including reviewing the associated hazards of the materials, necessary safety precautions, review of required personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency response procedures. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO COMPLETE THESE TASKS UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TRAINED AND AUTHORIZED TO DO SO.

How Can Fires Associated With These Tasks Be Avoided? • It is imperative that all Lincoln County employees recognize the threat that fire poses to our personnel and our facilities. Perhaps no other natural event has more potential to take away our jobs and livelihoods. For these reasons, unless listed in the Wet Down Policy as an exemption, wet down should occur BEFORE and AFTER tasks involving welding, cutting, brazing, grinding or heating with an open flame. Unless listed as an exemption to the guidelines, a Welding – Burning Hot Work Permit, properly filled out and posted, will be required in all areas where tasks involving welding, cutting, brazing, grinding or heating with an open flame have been performed. All employees should be familiar with the guidelines covered in the Lincoln County Fire Prevention/Wet Down Policy and the Welding – Burning Hot Work Permits Policy.