Safety is paramount in the day to day life of a welder. Negligence to take precaution while welding becomes very detrimental to the wellbeing of the welder and so one should take all the necessary measures to ensure that safety is foremost. Consequently, failure to be in the proper safety equipment may result in severe injuries, including eye injuries, electric shock, skin burns, and toxic fumes inhalation-related injuries.
Since protection should be from head to toe, various companies have come up with personal protective safety equipment to protect multiple parts of the body. Explained below are the body parts and their protective gear.
Head
The head can have an exposure to stray pieces of molten metal, sparks, high-velocity scrap, and flames and heat that may result in physical injuries, blindness and hearing loss hence it is vital to protect it. The central nervous system and lungs may also have damages from the toxic fumes. The head protective equipment includes:
Helmets:
The helmets protect the face, head, and hair. They should cover the whole face, have special lenses, and be hard. The Lenses are auto-darkening and have sensors to detect when the welder is active.
Respirators:
Respirators mainly cover the nose and mouth to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. They are of two types: full-face and half-face and fit under the helmets. Their choice and use depend on the workplace. Those people who work in an enclosed place need them more than those in an open place.
Glasses or goggles:
Glasses use comes in especially when having simple welding jobs and together with a full-face respirator. Their protection is less since they do not protect the full face; hence, it may result in sunburns on the face.
Hands, Arms, & Chest
There is more risk of injuries on the torso than any other part. The hands and arms are always in motion and very close to where the work is ongoing. Their protective components are:
Jackets:
The jackets serve as the best protective gear of the upper part of the body since one pierce covers the arms, shoulders, neck, and the back. The jacket protects against flames and heat, stray scrap, projectiles, and stray sparks. It should be fireproof and sturdy.
Sleeves:
The welder uses these sleeves in conjunction with gloves and aprons in the absence of a jacket. The sleeves protect the arms as they move more than the jacket. They are products of a sturdy fabric material that is also fireproof. Some already have gloves attached to them.
Aprons:
The use of aprons enhances ease of arm movement as the welder works. They have a more robust, sturdier, and more resistant materials hence offer better protection to these riskier parts. They are in use with the gloves.
Legs & Feet
Many welders ignore the protection of legs and feet. These parts receive the most significant number of sparks and flame, and falling items or welding machines hit them. Adequate welding protection should be in place for them. Items that protect them include:
Boots:
Safety boots protect the feet from flames, sparks, heat, shock, and falling pieces. The ideal boot has a fully closed design, shock resistant, pierce proof, and have steel caps or toes.
Welding chaps:
Welding chaps offer welding protection from the waist downwards from the front. They are of two styles, the full coveralls, and the pant style. The materials that make them are tough suede or leather.
Knee pads:
Knee pads protect the knees and make the welder comfortable when he kneels, especially on rough surfaces. Knee pads contain cushions from the inside and a sturdy material from the inside. Sometimes they exist permanently inside some chaps.
As much as the welder is keeping the body safe, he should also ensure that the areas are well ventilated to avoid poisoning and has a fire extinguisher to put out the fire in case the sparks ignite. The welding machines should also be at their right storage place.
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