Submerged arc welding tends to eliminate a lot of the load that comes in on labor making it less intensive on this factor. It tends to be either mechanized, semi or fully automatic. The method uses some flux otherwise known as plasma to blanket the area being welded from spattering dangerously. Once the current begins flowing through the cathode, the molten slag is formed co-joining the base metal. SAW does not use gases to protect the work surface from the atmosphere but this is compensated for by the flux formed during the current flow. A continuous flow is given by the electrode.