When working in metal fabrication safety is a top priority. Safety practices help to protect both the shop and employees. When the health and safety of workers is a top priority, productivity and quality increase. 

Creating safeguards for welding tasks can be a challenge because of the smoke and hazardous spatter. Welding different materials like stainless steel, nonferrous chromium alloys and other similar materials can create toxins like hexavalent chromium which is dangerous for the respiratory system. Welders face many risks if safety protocols are not in place. Some of these potential risks include splatter and spark burns, rashes and skin ulcers from exposure to toxic fumes and cutting mishaps caused by poor visibility. Other potential issues include perforations in the nasal septum, asthma or lung cancer. Beyond risks to specific individuals there is the risk of combustible gasses building up and causing an explosion which puts the entire shop at risk. Training and equipment can make a huge difference in preventing these sorts of mishaps and potentially dangerous situations. 

Every welding shop should have safety first welding practices implemented. Education is the best way to prevent material handling and equipment operation mistakes.Metal fabricators need to have safety training programs. Training should include a variety of different topics including the use of PPE with a special focus on welders hoods. PPE should be well maintained and inspected to ensure it is up to standards. Protective clothing like welding aprons and gloves should be inspected to ensure there are no holes or tears. Goggles and face shields should be inspected for scratching which may impact visibility. Falling objects are hard to see when using welding PPE and welders need to be in a safe spot when welding. 

Hot Spatter is a big safety hazard for welders. When welding spatter can be generated when the incorrect welding settings are used or the metals of different thicknesses are being worked on. Hot spatter can spread as far as 35 feet and can cause eye injuries, burns and other spark-fire hazards. Some ways to protect your team from spatter is to use a welding hood and shield to protect the face and eyes. Leather gloves should be worn to protect the hands from spatter and the heat of the spatter. Leather aprons or vests can be used or a welding suit. Proper training and examples can help prevent spatter. 

Air quality is another big risk for welders. Fumes can be deadly and proper ventilation and fume extraction should be part of any welding facility. When working with materials like lead, stainless steel, copper and zinc welders need to be conscious of the toxic fumes that are being produced. There are lots of options for removing and protecting against air hazards. Fresh air goods are a great way to protect welders from fumes. Ventilation systems can also help keep the air quality safe. PPE plays a huge role in air quality. 

A properly trained welder is a safe welder. Jack’s metal works prides themselves on being a safe place to work and offers high quality metal works for customers. As metal fabricators we know that safety and quality work go hand in hand and believe the work provided by Jack’s Metal Works speaks volumes about both. If you are looking to work with a quality custom metal fabricator Jack’s Metal Works is a great option. Our team of experienced welders can handle any project no matter how big or small.