AWS Safety & Personal Protective Equipment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ANSI standard governs the minimum requirements for eye and face protection in welding operations?
- ANSI Z87.1 (Correct answer)
- ANSI Z49.1
- ANSI Z41.1
- ANSI Z89.1
Correct answer: ANSI Z87.1
ANSI Z87.1 sets the performance criteria and testing requirements for occupational eye and face protection devices.
Question 2: When welding in a confined space, what is the minimum oxygen concentration level required for safe breathing air?
- 16%
- 18%
- 19.5% (Correct answer)
- 21%
Correct answer: 19.5%
OSHA requires a minimum of 19.5% oxygen in confined spaces; below this level the atmosphere is considered oxygen-deficient.
Question 3: A welder notices arc flash burns on their forearms despite wearing a welding jacket. What is the most likely cause?
- The jacket material has insufficient FR rating
- The sleeves were rolled up during welding (Correct answer)
- The jacket was not properly laundered
- The welding current was too low
Correct answer: The sleeves were rolled up during welding
Rolling up sleeves exposes skin to UV radiation and spatter, defeating the purpose of the FR protective jacket.
Question 4: Which type of respirator is specifically required when welding on galvanized steel?
- Dust mask (N95)
- Air-purifying respirator with P100 filter
- Supplied-air respirator or PAPR with metal fume filter (Correct answer)
- No respirator is needed with adequate ventilation
Correct answer: Supplied-air respirator or PAPR with metal fume filter
Galvanized coatings release zinc oxide fumes that can cause metal fume fever; a supplied-air or PAPR system with appropriate filters provides necessary protection.
Question 5: What does the designation 'FR' on welding clothing indicate?
- Full-range protection rating
- Flame resistant (Correct answer)
- Fume reduction capability
- Federal regulation compliant
Correct answer: Flame resistant
FR stands for Flame Resistant, meaning the fabric self-extinguishes and does not continue to burn after the ignition source is removed.
Question 6: How far should flammable materials be kept from an active welding area as a general safety rule?
- 10 feet (3 m)
- 25 feet (7.6 m)
- 35 feet (10.7 m) (Correct answer)
- 50 feet (15 m)
Correct answer: 35 feet (10.7 m)
AWS and OSHA guidelines recommend keeping flammable and combustible materials at least 35 feet from welding operations or using fire-resistant shields.
Question 7: Which hazard is uniquely associated with electric arc welding but NOT with oxyfuel welding?
- Infrared radiation
- UV radiation
- Electric shock (Correct answer)
- Carbon monoxide exposure
Correct answer: Electric shock
Electric shock is a hazard specific to arc welding processes since oxyfuel welding uses no electrical current.
AWS Safety & Personal Protective Equipment 2
Which ANSI standard governs the minimum requirements for eye and face protection in welding operations?