745 Welding, Cutting, and Brazing Safety

Hazard Communication

The following three factors in arc and gas welding govern the amount of contamination to which welders may be exposed:

• dimensions of space in which welding is to be done (with special regard to the height of the ceiling)
• number of welders
• possible evolution of hazardous fumes, gases, or dust according to the metals involved

The employer must include the potentially hazardous materials in fluxes, coatings, coverings, and filler metals used in welding and cutting in the Hazard Communication Program (HCP). The employer must also include the materials released into the atmosphere during welding and cutting in the HCS. The employer must properly train and make sure each employee has access to labels on containers of such materials and safety data sheets.

Additional considerations for hazard communication in welding, cutting, and brazing include:

• The suppliers must determine and must properly label any hazards associated with the use of their materials in welding, cutting, and brazing.
• All filler metals and fusible granular materials must carry the following notice, as a minimum, on tags, boxes, or other containers:
• Where brazing (welding) filler metals contain cadmium in significant amounts, the labels must indicate the hazards associated with cadmium including cancer, lung and kidney effects, and acute toxicity effects.
• Where brazing and gas welding fluxes contain fluorine compounds, the labels must indicate the hazards associated with fluorine compounds including eye and respiratory tract effects.

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