WELDING AND CUTTING OPERATIONS

On September 7, 1989 the Clark County Fire Department responded to a reported fire at one of our large hotel/casino properties. The property was undergoing a major improvement with the addition of a swimming pool, deck and spa. This was an extensive addition. It required a large amount of concrete footings, beams and supports, all of which contained steel reinforcement and wooden sheeting for forms. During a cutting operation, hot slag fell between some of those wooden forms below the cutter, igniting them. Once the workers at the site discovered the fire, they attempted to extinguish it using a fire extinguisher and drinking water, but in the confusion, no one reported the fire immediately. The delay in reporting the fire allowed the fire to spread, destroying the new construction area and, as the fire spread upward and out, it caused heat and smoke damage to the existing walls of the hotel, damaging many of the guest rooms. The final cost of the fire was 5 million dollars! Eight people were injured during the blaze, four firefighters and four civilians.

In view of this and other fires that have occurred in Clark County, which were caused during careless welding operations, it is essential that employees who operate welding units be familiar with Article 49 of the Uniform Fire Code. This Article not only covers the equipment and storage practices; it also covers general safety rules. Without quoting chapter and verse of the Article, I would like to highlight some of the information it covers.

Safety is paramount during welding operations and the person who has the best opportunity to avoid a fire or perhaps an injury is the welder or cutter. Be aware of the proximity of combustible items in your work area. Trash, rags or construction debris all present a fire risk. Since heat can travel through the walls, ceiling or floors, know what is on the other side of the area you are welding on.

Always have a fire extinguisher at each welding or cutting site and know how to use it! I've mentioned this in previous articles, having a fire extinguisher nearby is of no use unless you have an idea of its use. Formulate a mental plan of attack of your actions if a fire does break out. The fire extinguisher must be at least a 2-A:10-B:C and must have a tag attached indicating the date the extinguisher was serviced. The company servicing the extinguisher must be shown on the tag. Of course, a pin to prevent accidental discharge must be held in place with a tamper seal.

When welding or cutting operations are performed above or within 10 feet of any combustible materials, you have to have an individual perform a fire-watch. This individual is responsible for operating fire-extinguishing equipment and keeping others out of the way of falling slag or hot embers. It may be necessary to install non-combustible shields to protect equipment or people passing by the operation from sparks or hot metal. Once the operation is complete, the fire watch must stay in the area for an additional 30 minutes to assure no smoldering embers' flash into an actual fire.

When you move the gas cylinders by crane, use a suitable cradle to reduce the possibility of dropping the cylinder. Don't use an ordinary rope sling or a magnetic device to lift the cylinder.

Inspect your equipment frequently. Check for leaks, burns, tears, or loose connections. Make sure the hoses are identified by color or feel (red for acetylene and green for oxygen or perhaps ribbed versus smooth surfaces) If you do find a section of hose that shows excessive wear, it must be inspected and tested at twice the normal pressure it uses while in service, but no less than 200 pounds per square inch before returning it back to service. Throw away any defective lengths of hose.

The user will not transfer gasses from one cylinder to another or mix gases in a cylinder.

The use of liquid acetylene is prohibited.

Oxygen used from a cylinder or perhaps a cylinder manifold must go through a pressure-regulating device that is intended and marked for use with oxygen. Keep those cylinders, valves, regulators and fittings clean and grease free. Don't handle your equipment with oily gloves or greasy hands.

Keep your cylinders far enough away from the operation to keep them from being heated by sparks, slag or radiate heat.

There may be times when the precautions taken by the welder are affected by others. The desire to complete the job in record time or to come in under budget or to simply have a supervisor who does not emphasize safety, can all have an effect on the possible outbreak of fire. With this in mind, the responsibility for a safe operation actually falls onto the shoulders of three people, the welder or cutter, their supervisor and management.

Don=t let your company be the scene of the next welding fire, create or review your safety procedures, stress to your employees the importance of a safe operation. Brief all new employees on the safety rules found in Article 49. Give periodic safety briefings to those employees who have been with your company for years. Establish who will immediately call the fire department. Bear in mind that technology changes daily. Keep up-to-date on the manufacture's recommendations for your welding equipment. For more information regarding fire prevention, please contact the Clark County Fire Prevention Bureau at 455-7316.

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