Electron-Beam Welding

Safety

Protection must be provided by equipment design and arrangement, and by safety precautions in EBW
and relatedoperations, against the usual hazards of welding and the special hazards of exposure to (1) the
high voltages involved in generating the electron beam, (2) the beam itself (direct viewing of intense
radiation emitted by molten weld metal can beharmful to eyesight and thus the beam operation should be
viewed only through a filter lens commonly used for arcwelding), and (3) radiation of x-rays produced by
impingement of the beam on the work or other materials. From a safety stand point, an accelerating
voltage of less than 20 kV produces soft x-rays, while an accelerating voltage of over 20 kV produces
hard x-rays (Ref 1). Shielding is more demanding against radiation as the acceleration voltage increases.
Suitable precautionary measures are described in AWS F2.1-78, "Recommended Safe Practices for
Electron Beam Welding and Cutting," and in AWS/ANSI Z49.1, "Safety in Welding and Cutting."