# Welding First Safety Checklist

Walk through PPE, ventilation, fire watch, material prep, and machine setup before striking an arc.

## Outcome
Prepare a safe practice weld area before learning bead control.

## Safe first step
Confirm PPE, ventilation, and nearby combustibles before power-on.

## Ladder steps
### 1. Clear the work area
Learn to clear the work area as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: clear the work area.

### 2. Check PPE
Learn to check ppe as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: check ppe.

### 3. Prepare material
Learn to prepare material as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: prepare material.

### 4. Set machine basics
Learn to set machine basics as one discrete move in the project path.

Check: You can explain or demonstrate: set machine basics.

## Examples
### Practice fire watch walkaround
```sh
Fire watch walkaround
```
Expected signal: A visible result you can compare before moving on

### Practice helmet shade check
```sh
Helmet shade check
```
Expected signal: A visible result you can compare before moving on

### Practice scrap material test bead
```sh
Scrap material test bead
```
Expected signal: A visible result you can compare before moving on

## Common traps
- Practicing near flammables.
- Grinding galvanized material without understanding fumes.
- Changing machine settings while ignoring fit-up.

## Practice task
Create a small practice case for welding first safety checklist and write what each step proves before moving to the next one.

## Next steps
- Download the Obsidian note.
- Review the Anki cards.
- Pick one related ladder and do the practice task.

## Related
- [Browse topic clusters](/topics/)
- [All learning ladders](/learn/)