Metal Shop Safety

General Welding Safety:

Required Eye Protection and Clothing:

• Safety glasses must be on at all times when in the metals shop, even if you are only walking through. When welding, wear safety glasses under your welding helmet.
• Long-sleeved shirts, work boots or shoes, jeans or heavy cotton pants are required to be in the metals shop. No shorts, tennis shoes, sandals or plastic or polyester clothing, no shorts, no clothing with holes or revealing open skin allowed. Button up all shirts to just under the chin.
• Wear appropriate helmet for the process you are using. See chart for proper shade level required.
• Students must wear a fireproof jacket or leather welding jacket when in the metals area.
• .Students are required to provide their own safety equipment including but not limited to safety glasses, gloves, leather or fireproof jackets and helmets.
• All long hair must be pulled back and restrained. Wear cotton cap covering hair under welding helmet.
• Leather welding jackets required when cutting or welding.
• Leather gloves required when cutting or welding.
• Fire proof helmets required when cutting or welding.
• Ear protection or plugs required when plasma cutting over 2 minutes. Ear protection suggested at all times when in the shop area, particularly if you and/or others are grinding metals.

Acceptable Metals for Welding and Cutting:

1. Steel
2. Stainless Steel (speak to instructor)
3. Copper, Brass (speak to instructor)
4. Aluminum (speak to instructor)

Non-Acceptable Metals for Welding and Cutting

1. Galvanized metals
2. Cadmium or lead coated metals
3. Metals with a gage size of greater than 20
4. Cast Iron

General Welding and Metals Safety:

1. Do not operate any welding machine with out instructor permission.
2. Do not use stationary grinder or hand held power grinders with gloves on. Remove gloves and proceed. Gloves can get caught in grinders and catch fingers/hands.
3. Clamp all metal to table before grinding or welding. Clamp MIG welder ground to metal you are welding.
4. Make sure work area is dry and that there are no liquids or combustibles in the vicinity. Do not stand in any kind of moisture while welding.
5. Always turn on exhaust fan/ventilation before using any equipment in the metals lab.
6. Never look directly at a weld or cut being made by an operator without an appropriate helmet and eye protection filter. Make sure welding screens are placed properly to shield others before welding.
7. Welding and plasma cutting are for steel only. Absolutely no galvanized metals, lead, cadmium or zinc.
8. Inspect metals for oils, paints, or gasoline scent. Do not weld if any are detected. Grind away any coatings, oils, or paint before welding or cutting. If you do not know the history of scrap metal, do not weld or cut it.
9. Routinely inspect surrounding area for smoldering debris. When you are grinding metal and sparks are flying, make sure the direction of the grind does not shower a piece of equipment, or shower onto a person working nearby.
10. Do not remove gloves or touch metal until it has been quenched or had time to cool.
11. Grind away an spatter that accumulates on steel tables.
12. Turn off equipment, bleed line of any excess gases so all gages register zero. Sweep area on work table and floor. Brush off all equipment. Sweep and place all metal scraps and welded coupons into the metal recycling bin.