Hello from a Health and safety chap

[stephcasscar]

It was very good to see some advice on H&S in you DIY Guide and I can vouch for its importance not only to the user but to others who may be affected by welding.

I was asked a few months ago by a chap who used to work in a car factory about the dangers from the fumes generated by welding various metals, at the time I was aware that they were hazardous and after I checked for further information It became apparent that fumes generated from alloys and non ferrous metals are carcinogenic and poisonous and can lead to a host of serious health problems. Smokers cough is the least of your problems. To put it in industrial terms, if you are soldering boards or equipment in the workplace as a minimum you need local exhaust ventilation LEV, so making sure you have good ventilation is a must.

Burns are highly likely with welding and I would strongly advise a decent first aid kit and eye wash bottle to be hand in your workshop or garage, running to you kitchen or shouting the misses for water or a dressing should be a last resort.

That’s my tea break over

Steph

 

[malcolm]

Health and Safety info seems tricky to find (for those of us who like short leaflets rather than white papers). Do you know of a source for welding related information?

I'm tempted to reduce the risk of fire in the workshop by buying a couple of those yellow cabinets for oil and paint. One worry I had is that if my paints are sitting on an open shelf (leaking merrily away) then the fumes will disperse. If I put them in a cabinet then I'm likely to get an explosive mixture of gasses, and if a spark made it's way in there I'd be in trouble. Do you know the reasoning behind the yellow cabinets?

An eye wash bottle is a good idea. I suppose it should really be accompanied by a mirror so you can see what you are doing.

 

[stephcasscar]

The storage units are Flame vaults they are more than adequate to protect against sparks. they are tested quite rigidly. they come in a variety of colours. you need to be really trying to get a good explosive atmosphere in a flam vault.

There is a few places you can look for safety info, HSE website is pretty good and the Croners publications are short and cover most of the hazard and fire safety issues.

if you want some h&S info I can load it up send me a pm.

most of the eye wash stations/unit have mirrors on them .

 

[malcolm]

I've bought a yellow cabinet (complete with stickers). It really was a case of preventing it from being taken away rather than acquiring it, but it'll make me feel more comfortable with my paints.

Thanks for the link to http://www.hse.gov.uk There is useful info on there (although the "advice on buying Mig welders" page seems to be focused on the dangers of buying a heavy welder without wheels and the risks associated in carrying it around). I found some other stuff that was very handy.

I'll have a look at http://www.croner.co.uk/ later.

 

[Hitch]

Perfect, i reckon you might be able to help me stephcasscar...

How much should one expect to pay for such an item? And any reccs on places to buy?

Work have a policy of safety glasses whenever your on the workshop floor. Overspecs are a pain in the backside to wear all the time, not to mention ruining normal glasses, and proper googles all day is a no go!

They have a voucher scheme, but you need to be there 3 months first, untill then they only offer overspecs.

Cheers

 

[stephcasscar]

safety eyewear

Hi mate

Your employer is mandated under the H&S at Work Act and the PPE Regs to supply all his employees with suitable protection before commencement of any work activity.

You have a vaild case to go back to your employer and say that the equipment issued is unsuitable and is infact damaging your perscription glasses they are in addition uncomfortable and irritating.

Also Suitable perscription safety glasses can be purchase from most major opticians, I am certain that your employer is liable for the first £50.00 of these glasses or at the very lease responsible for the provision of SUITABLE protection.

Steph

 

[^neo^]

You never told me you worked for the HSE! Bet you nearly fell over when you saw the state of my workshop! :lol: