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Welding is a joining process in which metals, or sometimes plastics, are heated, melted and mixed to produce a joint with properties similar to those of the materials being joined.
There are three main components needed to create a weld. These are:
Other processes that join metals together include:
There are over 70 different welding processes. The type of welding process used is related to the specific application. The most common processes are:
Health hazards associated with welding, cutting, and brazing operations include exposures to metal fumes and to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Safety hazards associated with these processes include burns, eye damage, electrical shock, cuts, and injury to toes and fingers.
Many of these hazards can be controlled with engineering controls, work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE).