Wearing protective welding equipment is not an option. The technique has evolved a lot and so have the protective equipment. Now they are lighter and more effective, so they can be worn at all times. Not using them exposes you to professional severe accidents and illnesses.

Protective equipment can be differentiated into two types, PPE (Individual Protection Equipment) and CPEs (Collective Protection Equipment). All must be part of the personal equipment of the worker or his environment.

Personal Protective Equipment for welding

protective equipment for welding

In this group of protective equipment for welding, all those elements go on the body and protect from the direct harmful effects of welding. They are as follows:

Welding screens

welding screens

It is not only used to see the welding arc, it also protects the eyes and skin from radiation and projections. The most modern masks are electronic and activate themselves when welding, adapting the glass darkness automatically, and allowing normal viewing the rest of the time.

The welder's wardrobe

protection against burns

The welder's apparel offers complete protection against burns from molten metal projections or electrode coating. Some models also serve as protection against radiation, when welding is intensive. These are the basic elements:

• Hat - Also known as welding helmet - Protects from burns in the exposed areas of the head behind the welding screen. Protect eyes.
• Jacket -Repels weld projections. The most popular welding jackets are made of fireproof synthetic material and leather. Some have lead inside to absorb radiation, although they are rare.
• Pants -They are made of fireproof material, to protect from burns.
• Safety boots - They protect from burns, but also from shocks caused by falling material.
• Boot covers -They are placed over boots to prevent a projection from seeping into the shoe and burning the foot.
•  Gloves -The gloves are made of leather and of different thicknesses, depending on how the welding material is provided.
•  Facemasks -There are some types of masks with specific filters for welding jobs. They protect from toxic fumes from welding.

Other protective equipment for welding

Personal Protective Equipment

In addition to Personal Protective Equipment, there are others that serve for collective protection, as explained. They are not part of the worker's equipment, but they help maintain safety. These are some examples:

• Smoke extraction equipment
• They are fixed and portable, they extract or filter the polluted air so that it does not pose a risk to health.
• Welding tables
• Some are equipped with fans and filters that clean the air during welding work.
•  Regulators
• Regulators, non-return valves and nozzles, regulate and protect the gas bottles from a flashback.
• Clamping systems
• The pipes and parts to be welded must be well fixed during welding. Detaching one can cause a serious accident.