- Welder
A welder (also weldor, which term distinguishes the
tradesman from the equipment used to make welds) is atradesman who specialises inwelding materials together. The materials to be joined can bemetal s (such assteel ,aluminum ,brass ,stainless steel etc.) or varieties ofplastic orpolymer . Welders typically have to have gooddexterity and attention to detail, as well as some technical knowledge about the materials being joined and best practices in the field. [Lincoln Electric (1994). "The Procedure Handbook of Arc Welding".Cleveland : Lincoln Electric. ISBN 99949-25-82-2.] [Weman, Klas (2003). "Welding processes handbook". New York: CRC Press LLC. ISBN 0-8493-1773-8.]afety issues
Welding, without the proper precautions appropriate for the process, can be a dangerous and unhealthy practice. However, with the use of new technology and proper protection, the risks of injury and death associated with welding can be greatly reduced. Because many common welding procedures involve an open electric arc or flame, the risk of burns is significant. To prevent them, welders wear
personal protective equipment in the form of heavyleather glove s and protective long sleeve jackets to avoid exposure to extreme heat and flames. Additionally, the brightness of the weld area leads to a condition calledarc eye in whichultraviolet light causes the inflammation of thecornea and can burn theretina s of the eyes.Goggle s andwelding helmet s with dark face plates are worn to prevent this exposure, and in recent years, new helmet models have been produced that feature a face plate that self-darkens upon exposure to high amounts of UV light. To protect bystanders, opaque welding curtains often surround the welding area. These curtains, made of apolyvinyl chloride plastic film, shield nearby workers from exposure to the UV light from the electric arc, but should not be used to replace the filter glass used in helmets.Cary, Howard B. and Scott C. Helzer (2005). "Modern Welding Technology". Upper Saddle River,New Jersey : Pearson Education. ISBN 0-13-113029-3.] [Blunt, Jane and Nigel C. Balchin (2002). "Health and Safety in Welding and Allied Processes".Cambridge : Woodhead. ISBN 1-85573-538-5.]Welders are also often exposed to dangerous gases and
particulate matter. Processes like flux-cored arc welding and shielded metal arc welding producesmoke containing particles of various types ofoxide s, which in some cases can lead to medical conditions likemetal fume fever . The size of the particles in question tends to influence thetoxicity of the fumes, with smaller particles presenting a greater danger. Additionally, many processes produce fumes and various gases, most commonlycarbon dioxide andozone , that can prove dangerous if ventilation is inadequate. Furthermore, because the use of compressed gases and flames in many welding processes pose an explosion and fire risk, some common precautions include limiting the amount ofoxygen in the air and keeping combustible materials away from the workplace.External links
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References
www.millerwelds.com
Further reading
*ASM International (2003). "Trends in Welding Research". Materials Park,
Ohio : ASM International. ISBN 0-87170-780-2
*Hicks, John (1999). "Welded Joint Design". New York: Industrial Press. ISBN 0-8311-3130-6.
*Kalpakjian, Serope and Steven R. Schmid (2001). "Manufacturing Engineering and Technology". Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-201-36131-0.
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