Resistant) garment. Also consider the welder’s PHOTO COURTESY OF ESAB position when working, there may be a potential that sparks will fall onto the welder in places that require additional clothprotection. PPE cloth ing options like ankle gaiters, tightly collared garments, welding sleeves and hoods can be added for extra protection.” Besides safety, consideration must be taken into account for the welders’ comfort. Bulky ill-fitting clothing will effect performance and can lead to worker distress that can cause defects in the work piece and even accidents. “Synthetic materials should not be worn around welding, however, long pants such as jeans are appropriate provided they are long enough to extend over the top of the welding operator’s work boots to prevent sparks from entering the boot,” says Sommers. “Leather work boots should also be the minimum used while welding, with lace-less Wellington style boots or traditional work boots with metatarsal guards providing the best protection from sparks entering the boot.” Proper clothing protects these pipe welders.
that provide proper protection are essential. “Significant advancements have been made in glove construction, which allow gloves to provide enhanced dexterity while also maintaining, and even exceeding, the protection provided by traditional weld gloves,” says Sommers. “TIG welding, for example, requires a high level of dexterity to properly manipulate the torch and apply the filler metal during the weld — in this application a thin, tight-fitting and flexible glove is optimal. For MIG and stick welding, the gloves can cross over in use and range from unlined up to heavily insulated styles depending on the amperage and, therefore, the heat that the operator is exposed to during welding. Glove cuff lengths can also vary depending on the protection required for the specific application.”
FUMES When welding there are fumes which can be potentially toxic. No one denies this, and a great deal of care must be taken to minimize the risk to the workforce. “Welding operators should take it upon themselves to understand the importance of avoiding fumes in their breathing zone,” says Allan Hilbert, the Filtair product manager for Miller Electric. “The government enforces regulations and companies follow recommendations for fume control, because research has shown that workers who protect themselves feel better, have
GLOVE IT Gloves are an aspect of protective wear that is often not highly considered. Standard offthe-shelf work gloves are not recommended for welding work. “The two main types of welding gloves, MIG and TIG gloves, are most commonly made from leather,” says Shelverton. “The MIG glove is usually made from a cow hide and offers good protection for heavier duty applications, protecting the hand and wrist from heat, spatter and sparks. “The TIG glove is typically made from softer, thinner leather (goat or pig), because in these applications it is important for the welder to have better dexterity in the fingertips. Also, TIG welding normally poses less threat of heat and spatter.” For TIG welding, docile flexible gloves www.canadianmetalworking.com
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Comfort and protection are keys to proper TIG welding. PHOTO COURTESY OF LINCOLN ELECTRIC
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