Running a successful welding business comes down to efficiency in workflow. Any good business owner knows that when employees are protected, their working pace and quality increase. Metalworking jobs are rife with dangers that cause company setbacks, but more importantly, physical damage to hardworking staff members. To ensure better safety in the workshop, check out how different protective gear is used in welding.
Facial Protection
The most recognizable PPE item for metalworking professionals is the welding helmet, which features a large faceguard covering the entire surface area of the wearer’s head. The visor is specially tinted to block out extreme light, and the helmet materials are flame- and spark-resistant. They help protect welders from burns and accidental eye damage or blindness. Additionally, these helmets prevent chemical contact and radiation exposure.
Body Protection
Working with heat increases your chance of suffering from higher-degree burns, so most welders wear protective clothing while on the job. These clothing items include jackets, pants, leg pads, and aprons. This form of PPE is highly flame and heat resistant, meaning sparks won’t catch when they land on the wearer. Additionally, protective clothing in welding doubles as comfortable, stress-reducing outerwear. With cozy, thick padding, welders can work with metal in all sorts of positions without becoming overly fatigued or strained.
Hands and Feet
Besides your face, these areas of your body are the most vulnerable to welding-related injuries, so metal workers must wear insulated gloves and steel-reinforced boots at all times in the workshop. Welding gloves are technological marvels, as they’re lightweight, thin, and flexible yet highly resistant to flames. They also help prevent wrist strain. Steel-toed boots are standard for welders, and they protect staff from the most common work-related injuries within the industrial field. They also keep a welder grounded, preventing accidental electric shocks that can prove fatal.
Lung Protection
An often overlooked danger of working with metal is toxic fumes and the damage they cause welder’s internal organs. Inhaling chemicals for an extended amount of time puts workers at risk of long-term respiratory issues, cancers, and death. Luckily, OSHA does set regulations to ensure people don’t over-expose themselves to harmful substances while working. To help keep people safe, all welders must wear quality respirators, especially when handling materials containing hexavalent chromium.
Understanding how different protective gear is used in welding allows you, the owner, to run a metalworking business better. Healthy and safe workers are more productive and happier, benefiting your company’s reputation and bank account.
