A welding method including the steps of: providing, in a first position, a weld target assembly having a welding region and a weld tab located adjacent the welding region, the weld tab being changeable from a first physical configuration to a second physical configuration when subject to a first type of weld operation; the method being characterised by the following steps and features: performing a first weld process on the welding region and on the weld tab in which the weld tab is subjected to the first type of weld operation, in order to deform or remove a portion of the weld tab; moving, after performing the first weld process, the assembly from the first position to a second position; providing a safeguard apparatus for cooperating with the weld tab, wherein the safeguard apparatus includes a stop body having one or more recesses (26, 26a, 26b) for cooperating with the weld tab: (i) to prevent the assembly from being moved to the second position when the first weld procedure did not include the first type of weld operation by bearing against at least a portion of the weld tab in the first physical configuration; and (ii) to permit the assembly to be moved to the second position when the first weld procedure did include the first type of weld operation by receiving at least a portion of the weld tab, in the second physical configuration, into one or more correspondingly shaped recesses (26, 26a, 26b) formed in the stop body. providing, in a first position, a weld target assembly having a welding region and a weld tab located adjacent the welding region, the weld tab being changeable from a first physical configuration to a second physical configuration when subject to a first type of weld operation; the method being characterised by the following steps and features: performing a first weld process on the welding region and on the weld tab in which the weld tab is subjected to the first type of weld operation, in order to deform or remove a portion of the weld tab; moving, after performing the first weld process, the assembly from the first position to a second position; providing a safeguard apparatus for cooperating with the weld tab, wherein the safeguard apparatus includes a stop body having one or more recesses (26, 26a, 26b) for cooperating with the weld tab: (i) to prevent the assembly from being moved to the second position when the first weld procedure did not include the first type of weld operation by bearing against at least a portion of the weld tab in the first physical configuration; and (ii) to permit the assembly to be moved to the second position when the first weld procedure did include the first type of weld operation by receiving at least a portion of the weld tab, in the second physical configuration, into one or more correspondingly shaped recesses (26, 26a, 26b) formed in the stop body. performing a first weld process on the welding region and on the weld tab in which the weld tab is subjected to the first type of weld operation, in order to deform or remove a portion of the weld tab; moving, after performing the first weld process, the assembly from the first position to a second position; providing a safeguard apparatus for cooperating with the weld tab, wherein the safeguard apparatus includes a stop body having one or more recesses (26, 26a, 26b) for cooperating with the weld tab: (i) to prevent the assembly from being moved to the second position when the first weld procedure did not include the first type of weld operation by bearing against at least a portion of the weld tab in the first physical configuration; and (ii) to permit the assembly to be moved to the second position when the first weld procedure did include the first type of weld operation by receiving at least a portion of the weld tab, in the second physical configuration, into one or more correspondingly shaped recesses (26, 26a, 26b) formed in the stop body. (i) to prevent the assembly from being moved to the second position when the first weld procedure did not include the first type of weld operation by bearing against at least a portion of the weld tab in the first physical configuration; and (ii) to permit the assembly to be moved to the second position when the first weld procedure did include the first type of weld operation by receiving at least a portion of the weld tab, in the second physical configuration, into one or more correspondingly shaped recesses (26, 26a, 26b) formed in the stop body.