Most fabricators know the importance of safety. After all, working with flames, fumes, electricity, molten metal, hot surfaces, chemicals, cables, and cords–not to mention sharp objects–can be dangerous if proper care is not taken.
June is national safety month, in case you missed it, but like many other months, June has had its fill of welding related accidents. Here’s a sampling:
- June 2, 2012: Worker killed, another injured in Texas oil plant explosion “….Police believe the explosion may have been caused by a welding accident.”
- June 12, 2012: Teen killed by forklift in workplace accident
The accident occurred at a mechanical contractor in Canada that caters to the industrial market. - June 14, 2012: Tanks explode in fire at Phoenix welding company
“….Phoenix Fire Department officials say the blaze broke out…in a debris area in the back of the business and ignited several welding tanks.” - June 16, 2012: Welding sparks brush fire in Kearny Mesa
Fortunately no injuries and no homes or buildings damaged, but in the Southwest any brush fire is potentially deadly.
At Arc-Zone we KNOW safety is important, and for that reason we take special care to include with every order the operations and safety guides you need to ensure everyone is properly trained on everything from the Arc-Time LTG Tungsten Grinder to the Smith Flow Meter. Our easy-to-read operations guides are also available online in our Welding Safety section, in case you need to download another copy. You’ll also find the MSDS sheets for tungsten electrodes and other chemicals used in your weld shop. AND, the most recent additions to our Welding Library includes technical focus papers on Choosing Welding Helmets (for protecting your eyes) and an Arc-Zone exclusive: Eye Care for Welders.
Safety apparel is also integral to a worker’s well-being and when we discovered the AngelFire line of welding safety apparel for women, we were so excited that we updated our website right away, becoming the first supplier to sell the women’s welding gloves and the Flame Resistant Welding Jackets online. (We sell men’s welding safety apparel too). Proper fit is not just important for good looks, it’s important for safety as well.
Arc-Zone also carries Respiratory Safety equipment, heat stress products, safety glasses and of course, welding helmets.
Another good source for safety information is the manufacturers’ websites. Miller has fantastic safety information on their website, many of their safety sheets in other languages: French, Spanish, Russian, German, and Italian to name a few, a reminder that welding is a global industry!
For more guidance on safety in the welding workplace, be sure to check out the American Welding Society’s Safety and Health Fact Sheets, and the National Safety Council’s Workplace Solution publications for information on everything from chemical safety to skin protection.
And if your workplace isn’t as safe as you think it should be… the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) may be able to offer guidance. You have the right to a safe workplace!
