Safety Precautions for Electrical Welding and Thermal Cutting

Pyrotechnic operations are non-conventional operations that may produce flames, sparks, and hot surfaces, including welding, gas welding (cutting), blowtorches, drills, grinding wheels, sandblasters, etc., in the no-fire zones outside of the process facilities that directly or indirectly produce open flames.

Basic requirements for pyrotechnic operations:

1. The internal cleaning of the ignition equipment is clean, and the steam blowing or water washing replacement is qualified. Connection of all pipelines disconnected, plus blind plate (can not be replaced by water seals, valves).

2. around the ignition point and the vicinity of the flammable materials have been removed, holes, cellars, ditches, sewage wells, etc. have been covered and other isolation measures.

3. Acetylene cylinders placed upright, with anti-tipping measures and tempering devices, acetylene cylinders and oxygen cylinders and fire spacing ≥ 10m, two cylinders ≥ 5m apart.

4. The site is equipped with qualified fire extinguishers, fire blankets, fire hoses and other firefighting equipment, operating personnel equipped with personal protective equipment in line.

5. There is no combustible gas emission within 30m of the ignition point, no combustible liquid emission within 15m, and no paint spraying, solvent cleaning and combustible dust cleaning, loading and unloading of flammable and explosive chemicals within 10m.

6. Carry out hazard analysis of the operation, formulate risk prevention and control measures, set up a warning area at the site, and apply for operation tickets for other relevant special operations.

7. In case of holidays, public holidays, night or other special circumstances, the fire operation should be upgraded management.

8. Complete the operation approval procedures, the relevant responsible person on-site signature approval, set up special guardianship, guardian card-carrying, wearing obvious signs, operation ticket fill out the norms.

9 involved in special operations and special equipment operators, should be licensed (such as welding and thermal cutting operations).

Electrical welding, thermal cutting is one of the most important, the most common pyrotechnic operations, but also the most accidents occurring in a class of pyrotechnic operations, electrical welding, thermal cutting pyrotechnic operations should be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the construction before, to avoid accidents.

GB 30871-2022 ‘Hazardous chemical enterprises special operation safety norms’ in detail stipulates the safety requirements of hazardous chemical enterprises involved, process operations outside the hazardous work activities, including:

Fire, entry into restricted space, blind plugging, work at height, lifting, temporary use of electricity, earth moving and disconnection.