It was a typical Thursday afternoon for Moffat County, Colorado, resident Daina Wagner, but a sudden explosion and what followed had her wondering if her life and the lives of her loved ones were about to change forever.
Welding is a very difficult trade to master. It involves many tools and equipment, and not just anyone can pick up a blow torch and start making the steel beams and car frames of the world—it takes a certain level of skill.
A man was killed in an explosion at a welding shop in Dayton. Authorities were notified of the incident about 9 a.m. at Crystal Welding and "are treating it as a tragic accident," said City Administrator Bob Derus.
Q. What is a fume plume? A. A fume plume is the clearly visible column of fume that rises directly from the spot of welding or cutting. Welders and cutters should take precautions to avoid breathing this area directly.
Like other jobs or careers, welders must wear suitable protective equipment. In general, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must protect against hazards such as burns, sparks, spatter, electric shock, and radiation.
Sparks and spatter fly off from the welding arc. Hot metal and sparks blow out from the cutting flame. The workpiece and equipment get hot. The flying sparks and hot metal, slag, spatter, hot workpiece, and hot equipment can cause burns. Additionally, arc rays can cause radiation burns.
Q. What is a fume plume? A. The fume plume is the clearly visible column of fume that rises directly from the spot of welding or cutting. Welders and cutters should take precautions to avoid breathing this area directly. Ventilation can direct the plume away from the face.
Welding is the most common method of joining metals in industry today. When welded, two pieces of similar metals are fused (melted) together. Once completed, the welded joint is as strong or stronger than the pieces from which the joint is formed.
