Thread: accidents whilst welding

My Dad has scars on his chest from arc welding in bib & brace overalls ONLY. The UV gave him sunburn that blistered within the day.

I have ended up with sunburn on my right hand welding without a glove on a fiddly job before.

It's easy to forget the UV factor until it's already cooked you.

I often shake my head and wince when I see guys welding in singlet and shorts, and often thongs. Usually on construction sites, although builders have at long last learned to wear proper boots. Sometimes one still sees someone welding without a helmet. Just turn the head sideways and squint and all will be well, seems to be the thinking.

First fiel crew I worked on, I saw a few of good ones.

The first one was my boss - welded up a job (actually a ring coupling on a trailer), stood up straight, pulled off the helmet and gloves - and picked up the job! And put it down, very quickly.

The second one was the crew mechanic. He was oxy cutting in very hot weather wearing leather sandals. A triangular offcut about a centimetre to a side and the same thickness landed between his toes. He got quite excited. He was also accident prone - some months later he had bought a second hand cartridge reloading outfit, and, having forgotten its contents, was using the top of a rusty treacle tin as an ashtray. It contained about a pound of smokeless powder, and events showed it also must have had a pinhole rusted in the lid. Lost his beard and half his hair, and suffered first degree burns all over his face, which was blackened as you see in cartoons in similar circumstances.

Years later a bloke working for us did a small welding job (not work though) - couldn't see what he was doing through the helmet, so did it without. Did not do his eyes any good at all.

John

Had an acquaintance arc welding while wearing baggy shorts, squatting down to the job.
Hi walked bowlegged for a few days after that.
cheers

"Or, as you suggest, wear chaps:

bare faced cheek

Pull on your chaps, Ron.

He may have sent them away for a repair as they appeared to have a nasty crack that may lead to failure of the originally intended purpose

Originally Posted by andrew e

At my last work a fellows crouch cought on fire, burning all the hair off his dangleberrys.

Another fellow at my current work caught his shirt on fire, and a quick thinking apprentice threw 1/3 bucket of water on him..... not only that, there were a few bits of cut off steel in the bottom of the bucket. The welder was not happy.

my worst one was with the stick when i was an early teen. As i flipped up the helmet, i picked up the electrode holder at the same time. I didnt realise the almost full welding rod was facing me. The next thing i felt was like my head exploding as it formed a circuit between my front upper tooth, and the piece of steel i was sitting on, connected to the earth clamp.


Andy

One of my best memories of my dad,, (thanks dude [im all emotional now] I think)

I know this is serious stuff though,,, but I haven't heard them called that for so long,,

I've done lots of overhead welding too (silo's),, we used to wear heavy shirts and pants, then overalls, "sock savers", (to stop bits going in your boots) leather arms, then with an old leather apron, cut to size, and with a hole cut out in the middle of it to put your head through, and a skull cap to finish it off,,, we looked like "old knights of the round table",,
Summer in Albury can be very hot,,, so we were also wet , but "rarely" got burnt,,

And dont ya just love making like a circut,,, a short one at that,,