What You Should Know About Underwater and Hyperbaric Welding
Paul Brannon | March 31, 2025 | Personal Injury
Welding in any environment can be challenging. Even a minor mistake can lead to serious personal injuries or equipment failure. Underwater and hyperbaric welding are more complex techniques used in construction and maritime industries. They can be extremely dangerous and present a number of serious risks. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Types of Underwater Welding
Underwater welding can be grouped into one of two categories.
Wet Welding
During wet welding, divers will work directly in the water using waterproof electrodes. Construction and maritime companies often use this technique for emergency repairs. It is also a more cost-effective approach due to the limited equipment and prep needed.
Time-sensitive repairs are usually performed via wet welding. Unfortunately, wet welding is also much riskier for divers. Welders could be electrocuted or suffer catastrophic injuries. Welding underwater may also increase the risk of weld defects.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) tightly regulates underwater welding. However, accidents can still happen. Problems with grounding or minor oversights by staff members could have deadly consequences.
Dry Welding (Hyperbaric Welding)
Hyperbaric welding creates a dry environment using a sealed, pressurized chamber that removes water from the work area. Dry welding is much safer for divers and produces higher-quality welds. However, it is much more expensive and requires specialized equipment.
Dry welding is used for planned repairs and extensive modifications. Hyperbaric welding yields better welds and improved project longevity compared to wet welding.
What Risks Do Underwater Welders Face?
Divers face all sorts of dangers when welding underwater.
Electric Shock
One of the greatest threats to underwater welders is electric shock. Equipment must be properly grounded and insulated to prevent the electric current from flowing through the water and electrocuting a welder.
Explosions
The welding process can cause pockets of oxygen and hydrogen to form. If enough gas accumulates and comes into contact with the arc created by the welding machine, an explosion will occur. Underwater explosions have a high risk of injury or death.
Decompression Sickness
All divers must be cognizant of decompression sickness, which is also known as “the bends.” This condition occurs when divers ascend too quickly and is related to the increased atmospheric pressure divers experience while underwater.
Experienced divers understand how to ascend slowly so they can avoid decompression sickness. However, if an underwater welder experiences an emergency, they may have to rush to the surface and place themselves at risk for the bends. Severe cases of the bends can be life-threatening.
Drowning
Drowning is a constant concern during any diving activity. Underwater welders may face an increased risk of drowning due to the amount of time they spend submerged and the various equipment they are using. Equipment failures or loss of oxygen can lead to tragic accidents. Some possible consequences include lung damage, neurological disorders, and death.
Is Hyperbaric Welding Safer?
Yes, hyperbaric welding is safer and helps control many of the risks of welding underwater. However, underwater welding is necessary in many cases, which means divers must take other measures to protect themselves.
A few strategies include:
- Conducting thorough pre-dive inspections
- Following decompression schedules
- Wearing protective gear
Despite these precautions, underwater welding tragedies still occur. When they do, the diver and their loved ones can experience life-changing consequences.
Contact a Lawyer if You or a Loved One Has Been Injured in an Underwater and Hyperbaric Welding Accident
Divers who perform wet and hyperbaric welding are critical to maritime infrastructure. However, the risks demand strict adherence to safety standards. Individuals who suffer injuries or lose loved ones due to underwater welding incidents must hold negligent parties accountable to help promote continued safety improvements.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an underwater or hyperbaric welding accident, contact a lawyer for a free consultation.
If you need legal assistance, contact the Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyers at Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We have two convenient locations in Northwest Florida:
Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Fort Walton Beach Office
975 Mar Walt Dr
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
(850) 863-5297
Brannon & Brannon Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers – Destin Office
4507 Furling Ln Suite 214
Destin, FL 32541
(850) 790-0243
