This standard establishes the minimum safety requirements for performing welding, brazing and thermal cutting at Florida State University. It shall be used to ensure that an employee is physically able to perform the tasks required of them, are trained regarding transportation hazards and other potential hazards associated with the position and are provided with engineering controls and personal protective equipment to mitigate any hazards.
All employees shall receive training in the safe performance of their duties. This training shall be provided by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that this training is provided to new or transferred employees.
Welders face the potential to be exposed to various physical and chemical hazards while performing their duty. Data indicates that welders have an elevated risk of lung cancer and acute or chronic respiratory disease. The objective of these requirements is to provide a specific level of monitoring for workers who may be exposed to welding emissions or who may have been adversely affected by them in the past.
General
Pre-placement Medical Examination - shall consist of:
Periodic Medical Examination
Periodic Medical Examinations - shall include:
Labeling
Workers shall be informed of exposure hazards, of potential adverse health effects and of methods to protect themselves in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard Communication. Manufacturers of welding materials of welding materials shall warn employers and workers of the potentially hazardous components of the filler metals, electrodes and flu materials by applying precautionary labels to the packing containers.
Any secondary containers used by workers to hold filler metals, electrodes and flux materials must have the same safety information affixed to the temporary container as the manufacturer's original container.
Posting
In areas where welding is conducted, the following sign shall be posted in readily visible locations:
WARNING
Welding produces hazardous fumes, gases and radiation.
Appropriate personal protective equipment is required.
DO NOT LOOK AT ARC!
EYE INJURY MAY OCCUR!
Safe work practices and engineering controls are the preferred method to keep emissions from causing injury or health problems to our workers.
However, a number of different types of personal protective equipment are required to be used to aid in keeping the worker safe while performing their duties. FSU will provide the following protective clothing and equipment:
Clothing
Shirts with sleeves and pants of sufficient length to protect the arms and legs from heat, ultraviolet radiation and sparks. Denim, wool or cotton materials are the preferred type for clothing. Synthetics are not acceptable.
Management has the responsibility to ensure that the protective clothing is inspected, maintained and worn to preserve it's integrity. Items to inspect include:
Eye and Face Protection
Welding helmets
Welding helmets with approved UV radiation filter plates or safety spectacles with side-shields or goggles for all workers exposed to arc welding or cutting processes.
Goggles or similar eye protectors with filter lenses for workers exposed to oxyfuel gas welding, brazing or cutting.
Goggles or similar eye protectors with transparent lenses shall be used for workers exposed to resistance welding or to mechanical cleaning or chipping operations.
Eye and face protectors shall be maintained and periodically inspected. Any piece of equipment found to be defective will be either repaired using replacement parts approved by the manufacturer or disposed of and replaced with an approved replacement.
Respiratory Protection
Engineering controls and good work practices are the preferred method for controlling exposure of the worker to air borne contaminates. However, should a situation arise such that these methods will not prevent the worker from being potentially exposed to harmful levels of air contaminates the respiratory protection shall be used by the worker.
When a worker must use respiratory protection, requirements of the FSU Respiratory Protection Program will come into effect. The elements of the program include:
Selecting the appropriate respirator depends on the specific contaminates and their concentration in the workers breathing zone. An assessment should be performed to ascertain the specific requirements for the proper respirator. The department of Environmental Health and Safety shall be responsible for selecting the appropriate respirator and conducting the environmental assessment.
If workers are exposed to a combination of contaminates in different physical forms, combination cartridge and particulate air-purifying respirators may be required to provide the appropriate level of protection. The Department of Environmental Health and Safety shall be responsible for selecting the appropriate cartridge combination.
Should circumstances arise such that air-purifying respirators will not be able to provide adequate protection for the worker-then a self-contained breathing apparatus or a supplied-air respirator system with an auxiliary self contained breathing apparatus shall be used. Working in confined spaces is an example of a location which would require the use of supplied air respiratory protection.
Hearing Protection
Normally welding operations are not associated with noise level problems which two exceptions: Plasma arc welding and air carbon arc cutting. If either of these two operations are to be performed then hearing protectors must be worn. There may be other occasions which would require hearing protection to be worn such as chipping and grinding.
If insert-type protectors are worn:
All workers shall receive training in accordance with FSU's Right-To-Know Program. Emphasis will be placed on hazard recognition by the worker. Elements of the program are:
All workers shall receive Asbestos Awareness Training. This training is provided in accordance with FSU's Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Program. The elements of the program are:
Engineering Controls and Work Practices
Engineering controls are to be used for the protection of both the worker and any other individuals in the vicinity. The following engineering controls shall be used whenever welding is performed.
Optical Radiation
Chemicals (gases, fumes and particulates)
This following list of work practices is not an exhaustive list. It contains only a few basic guidelines which should be followed while conducting welding operations.
Performing welding tasks in a confined space can be extremely dangerous. The air inside the space may be acceptable when initially tested, however, the act of welding can produce oxygen-deficient, toxic or combustible atmospheres. Before welding can commence in a confined space all aspects of FSU's Confined Spaces Entry Program must be followed. A basic outline of those requirements is listed below.
Combustible Material
When welding or cutting operations are performed above, or within 35 feet of combustible construction; or when combustible material is exposed to the operation; or when such operations are within 35 feet of floor, ceiling or wall openings so exposed:
Flammables
Welding or cutting shall not be done in or near rooms or locations where flammable gases, liquids or vapors, lint, dust or loose combustible stacks are present, when sparks or hot metal from the welding or cutting operations may cause ignition or explosion of such materials.
Welding or cutting shall not be performed on or in the near vicinity of containers and equipment which contain or have contained flammable liquids, gases or solids until these containers and equipment have been thoroughly cleaned or purged of inert gases in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 CFR, 1926.352.