| When you are working with a welder there is | | | | have pain in the eyes. This pain can feel as though |
| always the potential for Arc Flash. Anything that | | | | you have fractured glass in your eyes. |
| you do that works with electricity can do this and | | | | When you are doing welding it is very important |
| it can be a deadly process. Arc flash can happen | | | | to use a welding lens shade that is at least a |
| on a large or small scale, and depending on the | | | | number 5 and should be worn within 20 feet of |
| welder's safety precautions, it can cause severe | | | | the welding that is being done. If you are standing |
| burns or be deadly. | | | | within 10 feet then you should use a number 9 |
| An Arc flash happens when there is a fault | | | | lens. |
| somewhere in an area where the welder is | | | | Normal arc flashes can also expose you to fumes |
| working. A quick and sudden amount of light | | | | and toxic gases so it is crucial to your survival to |
| energy and heat are released and if the welder is | | | | make sure you are in an area that is well |
| standing in the way, they can receive intense | | | | ventilated when you are doing your work. |
| burns or the arc flash can be fatal. | | | | It is equally important to make sure that your |
| This flash can also destroy equipment, cause eye | | | | equipment is functioning properly because often |
| problems and hurt people within a large radius | | | | an arc flash is cased by faulty equipment. You will |
| from where it happened. In order to understand | | | | need to check enclosed systems also because |
| what this may look like, think about a large bolt of | | | | these can cause a problem because some |
| lightening that comes down and hits something on | | | | electrical equipment can become energized when |
| the prairie. This arc of light could explode the | | | | it is faulty. |
| material that it hits upon and cause a lot of | | | | There are a variety of products that can help |
| damage to that material. | | | | you resolve issues of arc flash as long as the |
| This is basically what happens in an arc flash. This | | | | equipment is working properly, but they only |
| does not have to happen on a large scale only | | | | work if the welder will use them. You can get |
| because you can also suffer from it when you | | | | specially insulated gloves, rubber roll blankets (that |
| are not using the correct safety equipment when | | | | allow you to isolate the area that you are working |
| you are welding. | | | | within) and carbonX clothing for protection. |
| The welder will expose themselves to UV rays | | | | Although arc flash can be deadly when it happens, |
| that can hurt the surface of your cornea. | | | | knowing the safety precautions needed can help |
| Sometimes you don't know that this has | | | | you get out of the way and be safer. It is wise |
| happened until your eyes begin to feel warm. You | | | | to know the consequences of arc flash and how |
| may not know it until the next day when you | | | | to prevent it as much as possible. |