“You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs and you cannot weld without producing fumes and gases,” says Anja Saldigk, sales manager for PPE and accessories for voestalpine Böhler Welding. In this article, she talks about the dangers associated with welding and grinding, and highlights some of the solutions available.
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Driven by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), personal safety at work is becoming more and more important. Ever-changing standards and regulations mean we must ensure we bring the latest protection that meets these regulations to people in the workplace,” begins voestalpine Böhler Welding’s, sales manager for PPE and accessories, Anja Saldigk.
“The legal requirements for employers and employees regarding the use of PPE are to protect us.
Health needs to be our priority. Personal protective equipment serves as the last line of defence against welding and grinding injuries.
“And for every danger, there is a solution,” she assures.
Danger 1: UV and IR from the welding arc
The welding arc produces dangerous ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation. The PPE solution for this problem is to wear eye protection in the form of a good quality, modern and automatic welding helmet.
Bohler automatic welding helmets are equipped with auto-darkening filters (ADF) that filter 99.9997% of all UV and IR rays, even if the ADF is not active. In addition, the ADFs are characterised by ‘true colour technology’. The filter lens used for this is blue and not green as in standard welding helmets.
The blue true-colour auto-darkening filter glass provides the welder with an optimal view that offers the best possible protection against both the radiation and eye fatigue, especially for long-duration welding tasks. This clearer view of the weld seam ensures more efficient and better-quality welding performance by the welder.
Also, Böhler Welding’s ADF welding helmets are composed of light weight nylon, which makes them comfortable and provides excellent impact and heat protection against hard and hot welding and grinding particles.
Danger 2: Welding fumes and particles
Welding produces fumes and gases that can penetrate deep into our lungs without us noticing. This is an ongoing problem, and we often only feel the consequences of welding fumes years later.
The solution is to use respiratory protection, such as a Böhler powered air-purifying respiratory (PAPR) system, while welding.
The Böhler PAPR corresponds to the highest possible technical standard for the protection of a welder’s lungs with filtered breathing air that is 99.8% particle-free. This air quality level meets the highest level of certification, which is TH3, emphasising just how important we believe it is to protect welders and other workers in fabrication shops against welding particles and fumes.
Furthermore, our PAPR system has the facility to add gas filters with an active carbon medium. These go beyond protecting for welding fumes and particles, and can also filter out dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide, ozone and nitrogen oxides, which can be carcinogenic, particularly when welding at very high amperages.
Danger 3: Hot and sharp objects
Contact with sharp, pointed, rough and hot objects is one of the most common causes of workplace injuries. In addition, there is an increased electrical hazard when welding. The solution is to protect the hands of welders and grinders using purpose made welding gloves.
“Böhler’s latest welding glove selection offers customers an even more robust and complete portfolio from which to choose. They are made of durable leather with aramid fibre stitches that provide temperature resistance and strength. Each type of glove has its own features, which allows us to build a full range of gloves from a classic to an ergonomic shape for every kind of welding process,” says Saldigk.
With these welding gloves, Böhler meets the highest demands for cutting, tearing and perforation resistance as well as heat protection as the last line of defence against hand injuries. Materials and products used in and for the gloves comply with Europe’s REACH health regulation.
Danger 4: Welding and grinding particles and spatter
Welding and grinding produce hot weld beads, bright arcs, flying sparks and grinding particles, which not only cause skin irritation but can also lead to serious injuries. The solution to this danger is to use body protection apparel made using FR leather.
Böhler’s protective clothing, made of leather combined with breathable and flame-retardant cotton, ensures perfect protection with maximum wearing comfort and a feel-good factor. The clothes are certified to the highest possible ISO standard.
The gaiters, sleeves and aprons made of high-quality leather in combination with aramid fibre seams (Kevlar) also protect the welder when welding, grinding and cutting in difficult positions, such as sitting, kneeling or lying flat, as well as when welding under more severe thermal conditions where spatter levels may be raised.
Danger 5: Flying grinding sparks and spatter
When grinding weld seams and metal, it is quite possible that grinding particles can get behind conventional protective goggles and into the eye. The solution is head and face protection using a purpose designed grinding visor.
“With our Big Vision, Böhler offers full protection for the eyes and face with an unrestricted view of the workplace. In addition, Big Vision is also available as Big Vision Air, which includes a fresh air supply for optimal protection of the eyes, face and respiratory tract,” adds Saldigk.
“As renowned welding specialists, we have of course dealt with the greatest risk factors as described above and have brought appropriate protective equipment onto the market that not only offers the best possible protection but is also comfortable and affordable.
“Apart from that it looks cool,” Saldigk concludes.