Australian Welding: September 2020
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Welding Electrical Safety Safety is a critical consideration for any welding project. Welding is a safe occupation when proper precautions are taken. But, if safety measures are ignored, welders face an array of hazards which can be potentially dangerous, including electric shock and electrocution. Weld Australia recently hosted a webinar on Welding Electrical Safety, during which experts shared insights on safety in the welding industry, and learnings from past catastrophes.
Weld Australia CEO, Geoff Crittenden, opened the online event, where he spoke about the importance of the Welding Safety Council (WSC), which has been in operation for two years. “The focus is to provide a pathway to a safer welding workplace, set clear expectations on what is required, and training,” Crittenden said. The purpose of the WSC is to provide an exchange between industry leaders and legislative authorities to address issues in the sector, and work together to identify solutions for future practice. It is underpinned by the vision of eliminating loss of life or injury that may come as a result of welding. Research into Welding Fatalities David Hisey (Welding Health and Safety Advisor, Canadian Welding Bureau) joined the webinar from Canada. He shed light on welding safety, drawing on over 30 years of data and research. Hisey shared the details from 24 welding fatalities
“Prevention is only going to happen when you put education and regulation together.” David Hisey (Welding Health and Safety Advisor, Canadian Welding Bureau)
across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China and the United States, and three injuries from an electrode shock-study. The average age of the welders involved in the research study was 31.9, which Hisey believes is old enough to assume that they can be classified as experienced. “A welder who is 30 years old has probably been welding for a few years,” Hisey said. The study discovered that 22 of the 24 deaths took place in a hot and wet environment, where the humidity was high, in comparison to the two deaths and one injury where conditions were cool and dry. All 24 victims in the study had suffered from upper body electrode circuit contact, including eight who suffered electrode contact in the head, neck or face. It is important to note that the study did not measure whether it was raining outside and
the welder was under a shelter. “The environment certainly appears to be a factor,” Hisey said. Clearly, humidity and rain increase the likelihood of injury or death when welding. “If you want to weld when it’s raining you have to be prepared to die and I don’t know if your boss wants that happening,” Hisey said. Hisey also said 90 per cent of welders in a recent Canadian survey reported that electrode shock is a ‘normal part of the job’. This seems true in Australia as well, with close to one-third (32 per cent) of participants indicating that they had experienced an electric shock from a welding power source while on the job. “Prevention is only going to happen when you put education and regulation together,” Hisey said. Carl Hussell, a Consultant at Quantec Safety Solutions, also joined the webinar to share his expertise. Hussell shared the findings from a 2011 Coronial Inquest after
