Dangers underwater are in a way a bit different than underwater hazards. Hazards are things or events that could trigger danger and usually can cause accidents. Danger, on the other hand, can indicate a risky situation regardless of its size. If you are an underwater welder, the hazards that you may encounter can be chemicals, heavy metal objects, electricity, high-pressure environment, and also marine life. But how do these can contribute to the underwater welding dangers that these professionals must deal with?
If we talk about the combination of atoms with regards to possible explosion underwater during welding, this could really happen. Water has hydrogen molecules while you use gas to produce arc in your torch. When hydrogen and oxygen mix together, this can produce gas pockets. And if these pockets of gas get ignited, this can cause an explosion. So water in combination with oxygen is one of the underwater welding hazards that can happen underwater.
Another hazard that we have mentioned is the high-pressure environment when underwater. Because inside our bodies are lots of air, once you go into a pressurized environment, this squeezes the air inside your body and affects your organs. And this is why many diver welders have temporary or permanent hearing loss including lung damage. Lastly, even the marine life can also pose hazards to the divers. For example, because welders use flashlights to see things around, they can attract plankton which can eventually attract fish. With animals blocking the welder’s vision, this can also bring about potential hazards.