OM-1326 Page 4
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1-5.
Principal Safety Standards
Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes, ANSI Standard Z49.1,
from American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Rd, Miami FL 33126
(phone: 305-443-9353, website: www.aws.org).
Recommended Safe Practices for the Preparation for Welding and Cut-
ting of Containers and Piping, American Welding Society Standard
AWS F4.1, from American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Rd, Mi-
ami, FL 33126 (phone: 305-443-9353, website: www.aws.org).
National Electrical Code, NFPA Standard 70, from National Fire Protec-
tion Association, P.O. Box 9101, 1 Battery March Park, Quincy, MA
02269−9101 (phone: 617−770−3000, website: www.nfpa.org and www.
sparky.org).
Safe Handling of Compressed Gases in Cylinders, CGA Pamphlet P-1,
from Compressed Gas Association, 1735 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Suite 1004, Arlington, VA 22202−4102 (phone: 703−412−0900, web-
site: www.cganet.com).
Code for Safety in Welding and Cutting, CSA Standard W117.2, from
Canadian Standards Association, Standards Sales, 178 Rexdale
Boulevard, Rexdale, Ontario, Canada M9W 1R3 (phone:
800−463−6727 or in Toronto 416−747−4044, website: www.csa−in-
ternational.org).
Practice For Occupational And Educational Eye And Face Protection,
ANSI Standard Z87.1, from American National Standards Institute, 11
West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036−8002 (phone: 212−642−4900,
website: www.ansi.org).
Standard for Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and Other Hot
Work, NFPA Standard 51B, from National Fire Protection Association,
P.O. Box 9101, 1 Battery March Park, Quincy, MA 02269−9101 (phone:
617−770−3000, website: www.nfpa.org and www. sparky.org).
OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Indus-
try, Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1910, Subpart Q,
and Part 1926, Subpart J, from U.S. Government Printing Office, Super-
intendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250 (there
are 10 Regional Offices−−phone for Region 5, Chicago, is
312−353−2220, website: www.osha.gov).
1-6.
EMF Information
Considerations About Welding And The Effects Of Low Frequency
Electric And Magnetic Fields
Welding current, as it flows through welding cables, will cause electro-
magnetic fields. There has been and still is some concern about such
fields. However, after examining more than 500 studies spanning 17
years of research, a special blue ribbon committee of the National
Research Council concluded that: “The body of evidence, in the
committee’s judgment, has not demonstrated that exposure to power-
frequency electric and magnetic fields is a human-health hazard.”
However, studies are still going forth and evidence continues to be
examined. Until the final conclusions of the research are reached, you
may wish to minimize your exposure to electromagnetic fields when
welding or cutting.
To reduce magnetic fields in the workplace, use the following
procedures:
1.
Keep cables close together by twisting or taping them.
2.
Arrange cables to one side and away from the operator.
3.
Do not coil or drape cables around your body.
4.
Keep welding power source and cables as far away from opera-
tor as practical.
5.
Connect work clamp to workpiece as close to the weld as possi-
ble.
About Pacemakers:
Pacemaker wearers consult your doctor first. If cleared by your doctor,
then following the above procedures is recommended.
