MK Products Cobra Gold Gooseneck - Manual (Page 2)

Cobra Gold Owner's Manual Page i
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
ELECTRIC ARC WELDING EQUIPMENT
CAUTION : READ BEFORE ATTEMPTING INSTALLATION, OPERATION
OR MAINTENANCE OF THIS EQUIPMENT
1-1 INTRODUCTION
This equipment is intended for ultimate
application by commercial/industrial users
and for operation by persons trained and
experienced in the use and maintenance of
welding equipment. Operation should not
be undertaken without adequate training
in the use of such equipment. Training
is available from many public and private
schools or similar facilities.
Safe practices in the installation, operation
and maintenance of this equipment requires
proper training in the art, a careful study
of the information provided with the equip-
ment, and the use of common sense.
Rules for safe use are generally provided
by suppliers of welding power sources,
compressed gas suppliers, and electrode
suppliers. Careful compliance with these
rules will promote safe use of this equip-
ment.
The following Safety Rules cover some
of the more generally found situations.
READ THEM CAREFULLY. In case of
any doubt, obtain qualified help before
proceeding.
1-2 GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
A. Burn Prevention
ELECTRIC ARC WELDING PRODUCES
HIGH INTENSITY HEAT AND ULTRAVIO-
LET RADIANT ENERGY WHICH MAY
CAUSE SERIOUS AND PERMANENT
EYE DAMAGE AND WHICH MAY DAMAGE
ANY EXPOSED SKIN AREAS.
Wear helmet with safety goggles or glasses
with side shields underneath, appropriate
filter lenses or plates (protected by clear
cover glass). This is a must for welding
or cutting (and chipping) to protect the
eyes from radiant energy and flying metal.
Replace cover glass when broken, pitted,
or spattered.
Medical first aid and eye treatment. First
aid facilities and a qualified first aid person
should be available for each shift unless
medical facilities are close by for immediate
treatment of flash burns of the eyes and
skin burns.
Wear protective clothing - leather (or
asbestos) gauntlet gloves, hat, and high
safety-toe shoes. Button shirt collar and
pocket flaps, and wear cuffless trousers to
avoid entry of sparks and slag.
Avoid oily or greasy clothing. A spark
may ignite them.
Flammable hair preparations should not
be used by persons intending to weld
or cut.
Hot metal such as electrode stubs and
work pieces should never be handled
without gloves.
Ear plugs should be worn when working
on overhead or in a confined space. A
hard hat should be worn when others work
overhead.
B. Toxic Fume Prevention
WARNING: The use of this product may result
in exposure to chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth defects
or other reproductive harm.
Adequate ventilation. Severe discomfort,
illness or death can result from fumes, vapors,
heat, or oxygen enrichment or depletion that
welding (or cutting) may produce. Prevent
them with adequate ventilation. NEVER
ventilate with oxygen.
Lead-, cadmium-, zinc-, mercury-, beryllium-
bearing and similar materials, when welded
or cut, may produce harmful concentrations
of toxic fumes. Adequate local exhaust
ventilation must be used, or each person in
the area, as well as the operator, must wear
an air-supplied respirator. For beryllium, both
must be used.
Metals coated with or containing materials
that emit toxic fumes should not be heated
unless coating is removed form the work
surface, the area is well ventilated, or the
operator wears an air-supplied respirator.
Work in a confined space only while it is being
ventilated and, if necessary, while wearing an
air-supplied respirator.
Gas leaks in a confined space should be
avoided. Leaked gas in large quantities can
change oxygen concentration dangerously.
Do not bring gas cylinders into a confined
space.
Leaving confined space, shut OFF gas supply
at source to prevent possible accumulation
of gases in the space if downstream valves
have been accidentally opened or left open.
Check to be sure that the space is safe before
reentering it.
Vapors from chlorinated solvents can be
decomposed by the heat of the arc (or flame)
to form PHOSGENE, a highly toxic gas,
and other lung and eye irritating products.
The ultraviolet (radiant) energy of the arc
can also decompose trichloroethylene and
perchloroethylene vapors to form phosgene.
DO NOT WELD or cut where solvent vapors
can be drawn into the welding or cutting
atmosphere or where the radiant energy
can penetrate to atmospheres containing
even minute amounts of trichloroethylene or
perchloroethylene.
C. Fire and Explosion Prevention
Causes of fire and explosion are: combustibles
reached by the arc, flame, flying sparks,
hot slag, or heated material, misuse of
compressed gases and cylinders, and short
circuits.
BE AWARE THAT flying sparks or falling slag
can pass through cracks, along pipes,
through windows or doors, and through wall
or floor openings, out of sight of the goggled
operator. Sparks can fly many feet.
To prevent fires and explosion:
Keep equipment clean and operable, free
of oil, grease, and (in electrical parts) of
metallic particles that can cause short
circuits.
If combustibles are in area, do NOT weld
or cut. Move the work if practicable, to
an area free of combustibles. Avoid paint
spray rooms, dip tanks, storage areas,
ventilators. If the work cannot be moved,
move combustibles at least 35 feet away,
out of reach of sparks and heat; or protect
against ignition with suitable and snug-
fitting, fire-resistant covers or shields.
Walls touching combustibles on opposite
sides should not be welded on (or cut).
Walls, ceilings, and floor near work should
be protected by heat-resistant covers or
shields.
Fire watcher must be standing by with
suitable fire extinguishing equipment
during and for some time after welding
or cutting if:
1. Appreciable combustibles (including
building construction) are within 35 feet.
2. Appreciable combustibles are further
than 35 feet, but can be ignited by sparks.
3. Openings (concealed or visible) in
floors or walls within 35 feet may expose
combustibles to sparks.
4. Combustibles adjacent to walls, ceilings,
roofs, or metal partitions can be ignited by
radiant or conducted heat.
Hot work permit should be obtained before
operation to ensure supervisor’s approval
that adequate precautions have been
taken.
After work is done, check that area is free of
sparks, glowing embers, and flames.
An empty container that held combustibles,
or that can produce flammable or toxic
vapors when heated, must never be welded
on or cut, unless container has first
been cleaned in accordance with industry
standards.
This includes: a thorough steam or caustic
cleaning (or a solvent of water washing,
depending on the combustible’s solubility),
followed by purging and inerting with
nitrogen or carbon dioxide, and using
protective equipment.
Water-filling just below working level may
substitute for inerting.
A container with unknown contents should
be cleaned (see paragraph above). Do
NOT depend on sense of smell or sight to
determine if it is safe to weld or cut.