Tools and Equipment

6. Hazards resulting from the use of electric arc welding and oxy-cutting equipement

Before commencing work:

Choose the appropriate torch for the operation to carry out.
Check the torch to ensure that it is in good working condition and has non-return valves.
Check the hoses to ensure that they are not worn and that neither they nor their connection to the bottles or torch present leaks. Oxygen hoses are blue or black in colour, while acetylene hoses are red.
Special precaution is to be taken to ensure that work clothes and PPE are free of grease or combustible substances (oxygen in Contact with oil or grease produces very energetic oxidisation, which could easily cause a fire).

During oxy-cutting work:

First open the bottles with the torch closed.
To open the bottles, the welder is to stand to one side of the valve, never in front of it.
Check that the pressure gauges of the bottles are working properly.
The oxygen is to be opened first, slightly.
Then the acetylene is to be opened, to a greater degree.
Light the flame and regulate the mix, attempting to make this operation as brief as possible.
Spark lighters are preferable for lighting the flame, the use of gas lighter is not allowed.
When work commences, check that the operation is carried out at the right pressure.
The distance from the workstation to bottles must not be less than 5 m. Whenever possible, this distance is to be 10m.
When the operation has been completed, first close the bottles and then shut off the torch.
Once work has finished, gather up the hoses, as it is not allowed to leave them on the ground, and check that the bottles are fully closed.
Use only soapy water to check for the existence of leaks.

Storing the bottles:

These are to be permanently placed in the vertical position and well-secured to prevent them from falling. Whenever possible, trolleys are to be used to transport the bottles.
The acetylene bottles must not be used lying down, as leakage of the acetone in which the acetylene is dissolved might be produced.
They are to be kept away from sources of heat and inflammable substances.
They are to be protected against sunshine and damp.
Oxygen bottles are to be stored in different premises to where acetylene bottles are stored. The top of oxygen bottles is painted white and acetylene bottles brown.
Acetylene is not to come into Contact with objects made of copper or its alloys.
Oxygen is not to come into Contact with grease or inflammable materials and it is not to be handled with dirty hands. The bottles are not to enter into Contact with grease and cloths that have been dirtied with oil or fuel are not to be used with them.
Do not exchange the hoses when assembling the torch, as the rubber impregnated with acetylene ignites in Contact with pressurised oxygen.
Never use the oxygen from the bottles to clean clothing.

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