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Welding

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Overview

Typical welding hazards include the risk of fire and burns since many common welding procedures involve an open electric arc or flame – that is why welding is called hot work. The use of compressed gases and flames in many welding processes also poses an explosion and fire risk. Eye damage is a risk because of the brightness of the weld area. Electric shock is also likely when a welder touches two metal objects that have a voltage between them.

Health hazards associated with welding include dangerous gases and particulate matter. Fumes and gases, such as carbon dioxide, ozone, and fumes containing heavy metals, can also be dangerous to welders lacking proper ventilation and training.

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  • Checklists
  • Fact sheets
    • Airborne Exposure Limit for Manganese
      This factsheet highlights Oregon OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL) for manganese compounds and fumes and describes Oregon OSHA’s manganese rule, which gives employers the option to use two different levels of respiratory protection based on assigned protective factors during common welding and welding-related tasks.
      English  07/21/2022
    • Hexavalent chromium
      Describes the sources of hexavalent chromium, the risks of exposure and those likely to by affected - typically workers who handle pigments containing dry chromate and spray paints and coatings containing chromate, workers who operate chrome plating baths, and those who weld or cut metals containing chromium.
      English  10/11/2006
    • Oxy-fuel gas cylinder storage
      Describes responsibilities for general industry and construction employers when storing cylinders used for oxygen-fuel gas welding, cutting, brazing, soldering, and flame coating (thermal spraying).
      English  06/29/2015
    • Oxygen and fuel-gas welding and cutting
      Describes responsibilities for general industry and construction employers when using oxidizers, fuel-gases, containers, and equipment associated with oxygen-fuel gas welding, cutting, brazing, soldering, and flame coating (thermal spraying).
      English  06/29/2015
    • Personal protective equipment
      Details when employers must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers, with an example of a hazard assessment, and descriptions of appropriate PPE for various tasks.
      English  08/24/2023
    • Welding in Confined Spaces
      Highlights Oregon OSHA’s additional confined space requirements (effective Sept. 1, 2022); describes employers’ role in evaluating welding operations in a confined or permit space that is potentially hazardous. Includes how employers must control respiratory hazards in the space; testing the internal atmosphere; and what to document for each entry.
      English  08/12/2022
  • Hazard alerts
  • References
    • Rules with requirements
      We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
      English  05/10/2019

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