A welder should wear inflammable clothes and protective gear to shield their entire body, like the following:
1. Aprons that are made from leather that is flame-resistant
2. Safety steel-toed boots, preferably high-top ones because low-cut
boots and shoes puts you at a higher risk of catching slag that is hot.
3. Helmets or any other head gear to protect you from sharp and falling objects.
4. Goggles or helmets to protect your eyes from the transmission of radiant energy being emitted by the welding tool.
5. Optional earplugs or earmuffs if you are working with anything noisy or in environments that have a high level of noise; and
6. Gas masks to prevent inhalation of hazardous fumes, dust and gases
because if you breathe in too much of those, they can definitely damage
your lungs and give you a hard time breathing.
Did you know that if you wear dark clothes, you can be more protected
from the reflection under your face shield? This is because the dark
color reduces the reflection. Clothing made of wool is also preferred
over clothing made of cotton because wool can resist deterioration
better than cotton. Also, your pants should not have pockets on the
front and should not have cuffs so that you would not catch sparks.
In addition to arc welding safety, Tips for employers:
1. The cutting machine and arc welding frames should be grounded. Inspections should be done on connections to ensure stability.
2. Any kind of operation involving arc welding should be shielded by inflammable and non-combustible screens.
3. Fire can strike anytime, so be sure to have proper
fire-extinguishing equipment ready and located in easily-accessible
areas for welders. Make sure that your workers know how to work the fire
extinguisher.
4. Make sure there are no flammable gases or liquids near the welding areas; and
5. Make sure that the welder is working in an area that has sufficient ventilation.
