August 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
56
health & safety
INSPITEOFHEALTH
and safety regulations for
welding, there are a large number of welding-
related injuries every year. Such injuries include
hot metal slag burns, injuries from flying par-
ticles, radiation exposure or exposure to fumes,
vapours or chemicals. “A cost effective and
highly efficient way of eliminating exposure
to ultraviolet (UV) and infrared radiation, as
well as splatter burns is to install a high-quality
welding curtain or safety screen,”WimDessing,
managing director at Apex Strip Curtains &
Doors, says.
Superior material
Dessing says that welding curtains can be
installed at any place where there is a need to
use an arc welding machine. “This could be in
an industrial scenario, in a car repair garage
or on a construction site. Extensive research
and development has resulted in Apex Strip
Curtains & Doors offering welding and safety
screens constructed from a specially formu-
lated PVC. material. This material incorporates
a heavy-duty ultra violet light absorber that
ensures that dangerous UV radiation is safely
contained in the curtained off area.
“To assure customers of the legitimacy
of our claims we submitted the products to
extensive testing at the SABS. The first test
measured the level of ultra-violet transmit-
tance. Conventional materials provided read-
ings of 0,0005%, 0,008% and 5%, while the
Apex product readingswere 0,005%, 0,001 and
0,005%. In another test, the SABS measured
the total visible light transmitted through the
material. The conventional material allowed
78% transmittance, while the Apex material
allowed only 15,5% light transmittance,”Dess-
ing continues.
Another point that Dessing considered
critical in the material used for the Apex
Welding and Safety Screens was its ability to
remain impervious to burning should it come
into contact with welding splatter.
Convenience
Dessing explains that solid wall barriers are
costly and often inconvenient. Similarly,
Enhanced personnel safety
Occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations ensure that people
employed aswelders are safeguarded through the donningof protective
wear. However, the level of protection afforded to other employees
in the vicinity of the welding operation is often questionably low.
Appropriate measures are necessary to ensure that all employees
receive adequate shielding from UV rays and welding splatter.
makeshift protective measures in the form
of wooden or metal partitions, or opaque
canvas sheeting hung from the ceiling and
cross beams, do not provide worker protec-
tion and safety.
Customers cite flexibility and safety as
their top requirements for welding enclosures.
TheApexWelding and Safety Screens are avail-
able as either fixed installations or as portable
welding screens that allow for rapid set-up
and more than adequate protection. These
enclosures not only confine weld splatter and
prevent fumes from migrating to other work
areas, but they are also ideal for protecting
the eyesight of any workers in the immediate
vicinity.
Apex Welding and Safety Screens are
available in several configurations to suit
individual requirements.“Froma convenience
perspective, the portable freestanding frame
version has proved to be the most popular.
It has a very small footprint due to the design
of its angled feet, which allows the screens to
be butted together at a 90˚ angle. In addition,
access to the welding areas is easy, as the pat-
ented Balledge® design on the individual strips
facilitates easy movement of both personnel
and equipment.
“Ensuring that all possible measures have
been taken to prevent accidental burns or UV
radiation exposure is considered responsible
welding practice. By installing a proven weld-
ing curtain or safety screen, the risk of third
party welding accidents occurring is signifi-
cantly minimised,”Dessing concludes.
●
Apex Welding and Safety Screens are available as either fixed installations or as portable welding screens.
