Minnesota construction workers who work around or with tools like welders may be interested to learn that there are numerous modern regulations pertaining to their safety. In addition to rules specific to welding practices and equipment usage, OSHA has issued numerous guidelines for factors like controlling compressed gas, handling and treating different chemicals known to pose dangers and performing work within limited spaces.
An article published in December 2015 noted that each job or site should be individually assessed for risk prior to the commencement of any work. Factors mentioned included the kinds of materials being welded or cut, the state of ventilation in the area and the environment the work takes place in, among other issues.
Occupational safety industry professionals also pointed to numerous examples of how welding has led to negative outcomes in the past, such as when welders were electrocuted via their sweaty clothing or exposed to fumes that caused them harm after they performed work on materials that were finished with a substance similar to Teflon. Due to the wide array of potential dangers associated with this kind of work, some experts advise companies to control hazards by implementing specialty management systems and maintaining safety checklists for welding work in addition to providing workers with personal protective gear.
Welding and other heavy-industry jobs are associated with unique dangers that necessitate special precautions. When individuals suffer workplace injuries as a result of their involvement in these activities, they may want to speak to a workers’ compensation attorney to determine the types of benefits to which they may be entitled.