Risk assessment standards are gaining favor as a way to identify and prioritize safety concerns in a growing number of industries. Now the concept has moved into the world of welding and fabrication with the release of the new technical report, ISO/TR 18786. This document, titled “Health and safety in welding – Guidelines for risk assessment of welding fabrication activities,” addresses hazards for arc welding and similar processes. It will help you identify things you can do to reduce the risks associated with these activities. It was developed by the International Institute of Welding (IIW) Commission VIII on health, safety and environment.
It is based on welding processes specified in the ISO 4063, “Welding and allied processes – Nomenclature of processes and reference numbers,” processes 1 (arc welding), 3 (gas welding) and 8 (cutting and gouging). Joint preparation and grinding are also included. You’ll find a list of hazards and possible damage that might occur during these activities. And there’s a guide for possible preventative actions as well.
A nice feature is the discussion and flowchart for the process of risk assessment and possible corrective action at the beginning of the document. The basic concepts of risk assessment provide the basis of all that follows, so you’ll be able to understand how to use the tables to review your operations.
The Annex A will provide you with a list of the various hazards identified. They are notated by “H” numbers, each for a specific hazard you might face. What kinds of hazards will be addressed? Some examples are ergonomic hazards, dust and fumes, electrical currents and explosive atmospheres.
Annex B covers the list of activities associated with welding. It includes the relationship of processes to activities and hazards as well. And commonly used abbreviations for welding processes are also covered with Table B.2.
Lastly Annex C provides you with health and safety management concerns in welding fabrication. This gives you a list of the actions that you’ll need to take in order to implement a health and safety management system in your facility. And if you need additional information, you’ll find resources in the 13 item bibliography at the end of the publication.
Now you need to get your copy of this new ISO/TR 18786. Order yours on the Document Center Inc. webstore, www.document-center.com, or contact us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). ISO standards are provided in paper format, for pdf download and as part of our multi-user subscription service, Standards Online. We’ve been helping folks like you since 1982 from our Silicon Valley location. Make us your Standards Experts!
