Method and welding device with detection of electrical contacts during a welding process

In a method in which a welding process is carried out on a workpiece with a welding torch and to a welding device for carrying out the method, a welding current source is supplied in order to provide a welding voltage, and an electrical voltage is applied, at least temporarily, during the welding process to an external element of the welding torch, in particular to an outer wall of a gas nozzle, and a possibly occurring electrical contact between the external element and a further element, in particular the workpiece or a contact tube, is detected by the electrical voltage applied. The welding current source is electrically connected via at least one first resistor to the external element of the welding torch and the external element of the welding torch is connected to the electrical potential of the workpiece via at least one second resistor.