Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00419:body:0:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00419
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 13170–16042

and
infra-red radiation which can cause burns, cancer and blindness.
Potential hazards may be identified in a number of different ways including:
    * conducting a walk through assessment of the workplace observing the work and talking
      to workers about how work is carried out
    * inspecting the materials and equipment that will be used during the welding process
    * reading product labels, SDSs and manufacturer's instruction manuals
    * talking to manufacturers, suppliers, industry associations and health and safety specialists
    * reviewing incident reports.

2.2 Assessing the risks
A risk assessment involves considering what could happen if someone is exposed to a hazard combined with the likelihood of it happening.
Under the WHS Regulations a risk assessment is not mandatory for welding however, it is required for specific situations, for example when working in a confined space.
In some circumstances, a risk assessment will assist to:
    * identify which workers are at risk of exposure
    * determine what sources and processes are causing that risk
    * identify if and what kind of control measures should be implemented
    * check the effectiveness of existing control measures.
Risks will depend on various factors, including the:
    * properties of the materials being welded
    * surface coating of the items being welded (for example whether they contain lead
      or other toxic materials)
    * condition of the welding equipment
    * conditions under which welding is carried out (for example, confined spaces)
    * skills, competence and experience of the welder.
Different welding processes also influence the risk. For example, the risk of electric shock is lower using gas metal arc welding (GMAW) than manual metal arc welding because the open circuit voltages are lower, only direct current is used and the power is switched at the hand piece.
The following questions may help to assess the risk:
    * In the event of exposure to the hazard, will the outcome be severe, moderate or mild?
    * How often, and for how long, will exposure to the hazard occur?

2.3 Controlling the risks

The hierarchy of control measures
Some control measures are more effective than others. Control measures can be ranked from
the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest. This ranking is known as the hierarchy
of control.
You must always aim to eliminate a hazard and associated risk first. For example, fabrications
may be designed to include many pre-cast components or extruded shapes to eliminate the need to weld.
If this is not reasonably practicable, the risk must be minimised by using one or more of the following approaches:
    * Substitution – replace a hazardous process or material with one that is less hazardous,
      for example using submerged arc welding instead of flux-cored wire welding