ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill you.

Do not touch live electrical parts.

Live electrical parts can include the power supply, the power and work cables, the torch and
the work itself (if the work is not connected to earth ground.)
Electric shock can be avoided. Follow the recommended practices listed below. Faulty
installation, improper grounding, and incorrect operation and maintenance of electrical
equipment are always sources of danger.

Connect electrical equipment and workpiece correctly. Prevent electrical shock.

o Connect power supply and control cabinet chassis to approved earth ground
o Connect workpiece to work output connection of power supply
o Connect workpiece (as illustrated below) OR power supply work terminal (but
not both) to approved earth ground. Double-grounding can cause
welding/cutting current to occur in conductors intended only for safety
grounding and can result in destruction of the safety ground.
NOTE: The work lead is NOT a ground lead; the work lead is to be used only
to complete the welding circuit
Make good electrical connections of the work lead to the power supply work
terminal and to the workpiece. A missing or poorly - connected work lead can cause
a fatal shock. Make sure the work lead is always in good condition
Use the correct cable size. Sustained overloading will cause cable failure and result
in possible electrical shock or fire hazard. Work cable should be the same rating as the
torch cable
Make sure all electrical connections are tight, clean, and dry. Poor electrical
connections can heat up, and even melt. They can also cause bad welds and produce
dangerous arcs and sparks. Do not try to make an electrical connection through paint.
Do not allow water, grease, or dirt to accumulate on plugs, sockets, or electrical units
Insulate yourself from workpiece and ground. Moisture and water can conduct
electricity. To prevent shock, it is advisable to keep work areas, equipment, and
clothing dry at all times. Fix water leaks immediately. Keep hoses from touching hot
metal. Do not exceed recommended water pressures. Make sure that you are well
insulated. Wear dry insulated gloves, rubber-soled shoes, or stand on a dry board or
platform
Use only the proper equipment if welding must be done in electrically-hazardous

conditions. Such conditions include damp or warm locations, wet clothing, metal
structures such as floors or scaffolds, cramped positions or wherever there is a high
risk of contact with workpiece or ground. In any of these situations use :
o DC MIG welding
o DC manual (stick electrode) welding
o AC welder with reduced open-circuit voltage control
Keep cables and connectors in good condition. Improper or worn electrical
connections can increase the chance of an electrical shock. Do not use worn, damaged
or bare cables
Avoid open-circuit voltage. Open circuit voltage of welding, cutting and gouging
power supplies can cause electric shock. When several welders are working with arcs
of different polarities, or when using multiple alternating current machines, the opencircuit voltages can be additive. The added voltages increase the severity of the shock
hazard.
Remove metal jewelry. It is recommended that rings, watches, necklaces, and other
metallic items be removed before welding or cutting. Accidental contact of jewelry
with welding power can cause metal to become hot or even melt. It can also increase
the possibility of a fatal shock
Follow recognized safety standards. Follow the recommendations in American
National Standard Z49.1, Safety in Welding and Cutting, available from the
American Welding Society, P. 0. Box 351040, Miami, FL 33135, and also the
National Electrical Code, NFPA No. 70, which is available from the National Fire
Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269

Preventing electric shocks during welding

AMSJ
on January 6, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Source: Department of Mines and Petroleum, Resources Safety
22 December 2014

Summary of hazard
Over the past three years, the Department of Mines and Petroleum has received more than
160 electric shock incident reports during welding on Western Australian mining operations.
Fortunately, no one has been electrocuted but any shock received during welding has the
potential to be fatal.
The welding electrical circuit comprises a power source, electrode lead, electrode, work
piece, work terminal and work lead. An electric shock may result if a person becomes part of
the welding electrical circuit during welding.

Contributory factors
The most common ways that a person becomes part of the welding electrical circuit are by:

inadvertently touching exposed metallic or conductive parts during welding

welding in wet or humid conditions, which increases the risk of inadvertent contact
through water or sweat, which are conductive
not using fit-for-purpose personal protective equipment (PPE)
using a welding electrical circuit that is faulty due to inadequate testing and
maintenance.

Actions required
Workers need to be competent in the tasks they undertake. Those involved in welding
should understand the welding electrical circuit and how to maintain a safe current path.
Safe work procedure
A safe work procedure for welding work should be developed and implemented in
accordance with Australian Standard AS 1674 Safety in welding and allied processes and the
Welding Technology Institute of Australias Technical Notes 7 and 22. This includes:

conducting a job-specific risk assessment

implementing measures to mitigate risks arising from the work environment
visually inspecting the work environment, welding equipment and welding electrical
circuit before
each welding job.

Work practices
Welders should:

be aware of their work environment to avoid becoming part of the welding electrical
circuit (e.g.know what should not be touched)
ensure there is adequate insulation of welding electrical components to avoid
inadvertent body contact with any exposed live electrical part
connect the work terminal as close as practicable to the work piece to provide the
least resistant current return-path back to the welding power source
ensure earth leakage protection does not exceed 30 mA
isolate the welding activity from other work carried out in the area Note: Where it is
necessary to carry out more than one welding activity in the same work area,
a safe current return-path should be maintained for each welding activity.
avoid welding in wet or humid work areas
use protective devices such as a voltage reduction device (VRD) or manual trigger
switch.

If it is not practical to avoid working in wet or humid conditions, implement additional

control measures such as:

ensuring equipment is dry before welding

using fit-for-purpose personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing (e.g. personal
protection that insulates body parts from any exposed metallic conductive parts of the
welding electrical circuit)
providing additional PPE for change-out when that being used becomes wet or damp.

Testing and maintenance

An electrical supervisor at a mine must ensure that electrical equipment and installations at
the mine are maintained in a safe working condition through routine testing and maintenance
by a licensed electrician. The test plan should include verification of:

the welding electrical circuit

protective devices
earth continuity and insulation resistance.

Further information
AS 1674.2 Safety in welding and allied processes
The Welding Technology Institute of Australia (WTIA)
Technical Note No. 7 Health and safety in welding
Technical Note No. 22 Welding electrical safety
This Mines Safety Bulletin was approved for release by the State Mining Engineer on 22
December 2014.
For more information visit the DMP website: http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/15563.aspx#7061

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Everyone is susceptible to burns, particularly on their hands. Some injuries can be minor,
while others may require surgery and intense therapy. Regardless of the severity of your burn,

Dr. Smith can help. Many first and second degree and some third degree burns can be treated
locally without transfer to a burn center. However, larger third degree, complex burn areas
such as the hands and mouth/eyes, and in the elderly/chronically ill or children should be
transferred to a regional burn center. Dr. Smith often gets consulted by the local emergency
physicians about the necessity to transfer and will make try to make the best decision for you
based on safety. Even after the acute injury from burns has subsided, the reconstruction after
can take many surgeries and intensive therapy. Dr. Smith is very comfortable with the
reconstruction of burns after the acute phase has ended and will work with you to save costly
trips to larger cities and bring personalized care from a local surgeon.

How is Burn Treatment Performed?

Your burn treatment will depend on the scope of your injury. There are four levels of burns:
first degree, second degree, third degree and fourth degree. Dr. Smith and his staff are
dedicated to helping our patients recover from all types of burns, using some of the following
techniques: First-degree burn: These kinds of burns are superficial, featuring redness but no
blisters, and typically heal within a week. Treatment for our first-degree burn patients may
include a combination local analgesics and pain medication. Second-degree burn: When the
burn results in damage to partial thickness of the skin, it is designated as a second-degree
burn. This kind of injury will have blisters that may be trimmed for treatment. Any open, raw
surfaces of the skin would be cleaned and then treated with topical antibiotics. It will take
about two or three weeks to heal, although some second-degree burns may need excision of
damaged skin followed by skin grafting. Third-degree burn: Damage that is full thickness to
the skin is referred to as a third-degree burn and develops a white, leathery appearance. When
treating this kind of injury, the dead skin is removed and replaced with skin grafts.
Sometimes, larger amounts of tissue known as flaps containing fat or even muscle should be
used if the skin is very sensitive or the burn is exposing delicate tissues underneath. Fourthdegree burns: This type of burn is the same as a third-degree burn but includes even deeper
damage that affects tendons, joints and bone. Treatment of a fourth-degree burn may involve
debridement, which is the removal of dead tissue, and the placement of skin grafts. Flap
reconstruction is common with these rare, but devastating burn injuries.

Am I a Good Candidate for Burn Treatment?

Everyones injuries are different, whether in

degree or location. Because of the highly individual and specialized nature of burn treatment,
Dr. Smith will take the time to examine your individual problem and present you with several
potential options for treatment. During that time, he can determine the best option for your
individual case. Tri-State Specialists: Plastic Surgery welcomes residents from throughout the
region.

What Kind of Care Can I Expect After Burn Treatment?

Burns are some of the most painful and disfiguring of injuries. Dr. Smith understands how
important it is to provide exemplary follow-up care to our burn treatment patients. Although
the length and intensity of post-procedure care varies depending on the degree of the burn, we
pride ourselves on making sure all our patients feel comfortable and satisfied. To that end, we
are available for any questions you may have about your burn treatment.

What are the Typical Results of Burn Treatment?

The effects of burn treatment will depend on the severity of your trauma. Our goal is to
restore both the appearance and return as much normal function as possible.