Educational guidance on how workplace induction and safety instruction generally work — connected to workplace safety, occupations, industries, employment documents and company types. Informational only — not certified training, not an official qualification and not a substitute for mandatory workplace instruction; employers remain responsible for required training, competence and authorisation.
What this instruction covers
Welding safety instruction explains, in general terms, the hazards of welding, the controls that protect the welder and others nearby, and the limits of what a worker may do without recognised training.
This page is an educational outline only. It does not replace the manufacturer’s instructions, the employer’s risk assessment, the welding procedure, the hot work permit system or recognised welding training and qualification.
The hazards
- Welding fume and gases harmful to health if inhaled.
- Intense ultraviolet and infrared radiation — arc eye and skin burns.
- Hot metal, spatter, slag and the risk of fire and explosion.
- Electric shock from the welding equipment.
- Compressed and fuel gases, and confined or oxygen-deficient spaces.
Who needs this instruction
- Welders and those who assist with welding and cutting.
- Fitters and fabricators who weld as part of their work.
- Supervisors who manage hot work and permits.
- Others working near welding who are exposed to its hazards.
The safe system of work
- Work to the welding procedure and any hot work permit in force.
- Control fume at source with local exhaust ventilation and good ventilation.
- Set up screens to protect others from the arc and clear flammables away.
- Have suitable fire extinguishing means and a fire watch where required.
- Inspect cables, returns and connections; keep the area dry and clear.
Ventilation, screening & fire controls
- Local exhaust ventilation captures fume close to where it is produced.
- Screens and curtains protect passers-by from arc radiation.
- A hot work permit controls welding in higher-risk areas.
- A fire watch and post-work checks reduce the risk of delayed fires.
Required PPE
- A welding helmet or shield with the correct filter shade.
- Flame-resistant clothing, gauntlets and protection for skin against UV.
- Respiratory protection where ventilation alone is not enough.
- Eye and hearing protection appropriate to the process and area.
Pre-use checks
- Inspect the set, cables, torch, hoses, regulators and earth return.
- Confirm ventilation, screens and fire precautions are in place.
- Check gas cylinders are secure, upright and free of leaks.
- Do not start work with damaged equipment or missing controls.
Isolation, gases & confined spaces
- Isolate and make safe before maintenance on welding equipment.
- Shut off and secure gas supplies when not in use.
- Welding in confined spaces is a separate, controlled, permit-based task.
- Never weld on or near closed vessels or unknown contents without specialist controls.
What the worker is and is not authorised to do
- Weld only the processes and work the employer has instructed and authorised.
- Work only within any hot work permit and procedure in force.
- Do not weld in confined spaces or on vessels without the specific controls and authorisation.
- Do not modify or repair welding equipment unless trained and authorised.
What to do if something is wrong
- Stop work if ventilation, screening or fire controls fail.
- Report damaged equipment, gas leaks and any fire or near miss.
- Report symptoms such as arc eye or breathing difficulty.
- Do not continue welding outside the permit or safe conditions.
Training & competence
Reading this page does not make a worker competent, qualified or authorised to weld. Welding requires recognised training, practice and the employer’s assessment of competence.
Many welding tasks call for a recognised welding qualification or coding for the process and material, and hot work and confined-space welding need formal authorisation. This page provides none of these.
Documentation
- A record of the welding safety instruction given.
- Welder qualification or coding records held by the employer.
- Hot work permits and any confined-space authorisations.
- These can be shared as PDFs; a record documents instruction, not competence.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Welding without controlling fume or protecting others from the arc.
- Starting hot work near flammables or without the required permit.
- Welding on vessels of unknown contents without specialist controls.
- Treating general awareness as a substitute for recognised welding training.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for safe equipment, ventilation, the hot work permit system, recognised training and qualification, assessing competence, authorising welders and keeping records. This guide is an educational outline to support that work.
It does not deliver training, certify, qualify or authorise anyone, satisfy any legal requirement or transfer the employer’s responsibility for welding safety and supervision.
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