American Welding Society - Safety & Health Fact Sheets
 SAFETY & HEALTH FACT SHEETS
No. Title Date
1 Fumes and Gases Oct 05
2 Radiation Oct 03
3 Noise Oct 03
4 Chromium and Nickel in Welding Fume Oct 03
5 Electrical Hazards Aug 06
6 Fire and Explosion Prevention Aug 06
7 Burn Protection Sep 95
8 Mechanical Hazards Sep 95
9 Tripping and Falling Sep 95
10 Falling Objects Sep 95
11 Confined Spaces Sep 95
12 Contact Lens Wear Sep 95
13 Ergonomics in the Welding Environment Sep 95
14 Graphic Symbols for Precautionary Labels Sep 95
15 Style Guidelines for Safety and Health Documents Sep 95
16 Pacemakers and Welding Mar 97
17 Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) Jan 96
18 Lockout/Tagout Mar 97
19 Laser Welding and Cutting Safety Mar 98
20 Thermal Spraying Safety Feb 97
21 Resistance Spot Welding Feb 99
22 Cadmium Exposure from Welding & Allied Processes Jan 02
23 California Proposition 65 Jul 01
24 Fluxes for Arc Welding and Brazing: Safe Handling and Use Jan 02
25 Metal Fume Fever Jan 02
26 Arc Viewing Distance Jul 04
27 Thoriated Tungsten Electrodes Oct 03
28 Oxyfuel Safety: Check Valves and Flashback Arrestors Apr 05
29 Grounding of Portable and Vehicle Mounted Welding Generators July 04
30 Cylinders: Safe Storage, Handling, and Use Mar 05
31 Eye and Face Protection for Welding and Cutting Operations
Dec 06
NEW 2005!
ANSI Z49.1:2005 Revision Now Available for FREE Download (pdf)
The American Welding Society’s Board of Directors recently authorized free electronic distribution of the current ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes. The Board decided this important voluntary welding safety and health standards document should receive the widest distribution possible and has directed that Z49.1-2005 be made available for free download.

During World War II, the huge demand for war materials production placed on the United States brought a tremendous expansion into the use of welding. In mid- 1943 it was recognized that some type of code or standard was needed relating to safe practices for performing welding. Under the auspices of the American Standards Association, the standard was drafted and published in 1944. It was entitled American War Standard Z49.1, Safety in Electric and Gas Welding, and Cutting Operations.

Following the war, the standard was first revised in 1950. Subsequent revisions occurred in 1958, 1967, 1973, 1983, 1988, 1994, 1999, and 2005. The 2005 revision is now available and accessible for free download from the AWS website. During the period of these revisions, the American Standards Association has become the American National Standards Institute and War Standard ASA Z49.1-1944 has become ANSI Z49.1-2005.

Download ANSI Z49.1-2005 in pdf

Additional Links
From OSHA - Welding, Cutting and Brazing - Potential Hazards and Possible Controls

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