Safety equipment for welding

The most widely used method across manufacturing industries for creating permanent joints and assembling products is joining metals by welding.

Whether you are a welding professional or simply a hobbyist, protective clothing is of utmost importance when working with welding. In addition to a good machine, welding craftsmen must also use special protective equipment that ensures protection and safe work during the processes.

Occupational safety for welders usually focuses on welding fumes, but ergonomics must not be overlooked. The welder often works in confined and challenging conditions, performing welding processes in the same position for a long period of time. 

This raises the question of how to define workplace ergonomics.

Workplace ergonomics aims to adapt the work process, equipment, and environment to human needs. In this way, employees’ occupational safety is improved and care is taken for their health and safe work. Along with occupational safety requirements for machines, their design and safeguarding, and regarding workplace environment factors, a number of ergonomic requirements must also be taken into account. The specific requirements for machines, facilities, technological equipment, and the like derive from the general ergonomic requirements and in most cases specify, detail, and supplement them.

At the core of the general ergonomic requirements are anthropometric requirements and requirements regarding work zones, work postures, and work movements. Compliance with them ensures higher efficiency and quality of work, better use of resources, and a reduction in workers’ physical energy expenditure.

Physical ergonomics addresses the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the human body in relation to physical activity and movement. This includes work postures, material handling, repetitive movements, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and overall health and safety. The key point is that employers must create a work environment where it is possible to change work posture frequently, or offer ways to ease the load with the help of better equipment.

It is also important to note that every professional must have work clothing that protects them from flying sparks that could cause skin burns and other hazardous incidents. Welding work requires good preparation and the use of appropriate work clothing. Welding activities involve the release of gases, radiation emission, and the use of electric current, creating risks of burns, intoxication, fire, or explosion. Therefore, the use of personal protective equipment, adequate ventilation, and training are essential for safer performance of welding work. Protection against welding fumes is also very important for safe welding work.

When working with welding, the worker must use special protective equipment – a radiation and heat protective shield and “closed-type” goggles for protection from solid particles when chipping slag after welding, and more.

You should also keep in mind that when welding certain materials or working in spaces where fresh air is limited, you must protect yourself from welding fumes with a welding helmet with a respiratory system or use a welding gun with fume extraction.

Kemppi is a proven brand for the quality of welding machines and equipment that ensure safe work in welding-related activities.

The protective helmets from Kemppi come in several types, depending on the type of activity performed and the working environment.

The first type, the Zeta welding helmet, is a Kemppi product that speaks for quality and full-face protection. The Zeta product features integrated battery-powered LED work lights, which is a unique feature for Kemppi, because it improves work accuracy and reduces eye fatigue.   The helmet has a lightweight design, excellent ergonomics, and innovative visibility features. It is intended for work processes where using a standalone welding helmet is recommended instead of a respiratory model.

First and foremost, the light, slim, and well-balanced design significantly improves the ergonomics of welding work by relieving strain on the neck and shoulders.

The Gamma face shield offers first-class protection for your eyes and face in a work environment where respiratory protection is not required. It has auto-darkening welding lenses that offer maximum visibility and safety for welding, grinding, and inspection processes. The Gamma welding shield is designed for work environments where respiratory protection is not required.

The Beta e90 SH welding masks provide cost-effective workplace safety by fully protecting the head and face. They are equipped with passive or auto-darkening lenses that ensure work safety with full face and head protection against sparks and spatter, as well as the option to wear a hard hat with the mandatory hearing protection when welding. They are suitable for MIG / MAG, TIG, MMA welding methods, plasma, cutting, and grinding.

The Alpha mask is a lightweight welding mask with perfect balance. It is suitable for MMA – TIG – MIG/MAG welding processes, tacking, cutting, grinding, and inspection.