Personal Protective Advice for Welding

Personal Protective Clothing, often referred to as PPE, is clothing worn by employees to protect them from hazards at the workplace.

It is an employer's obligation under The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 to protect workers from the risks that can cause injury from their work and provide adequate equipment and training. These risks include:

• chemicals, fume and other hazardous substances
• cold, heat and weather
• machinery
• fire
• electricity
• noise

A metal fabrication workshop has a range of safety hazards: thermal, fire, electrical, slips, hand injuries, noise and vibration; PPE is required to mitigate each of these. It's important to note that while employers have a legal responsibility to ensure appropriate equipment is available and properly used, employees are also responsible for using it and for reporting any faults to the employer.

Therefore, this article does not focus solely on the type of PPE required for welding applications, but rather on additional best practice to maximise the efficacy of the PPE.

Body protection:

For safety whilst welding, an individual should be supplied with either full body coveralls or a combination of trousers and long-sleeved clothing meeting EN ISO 11611 Class 1 or Class 2. This will help protect the wearer against spatter, short contact time with flame, radiant heat from an electric arc used for welding and allied processes, and minimise the possibility of electrical shock by short-term/accidental contact with live electrical conductors at voltages up to approximately 100 V d. c. The class is dependent upon the hazardousness of the overall welding environment with Class 2 affording most protection.

• Clothing should be made from heavyweight, tightly woven, 100% cotton/wool to protect from UV radiation, hot metal, sparks and open flames.
• Shirts should have long sleeves with buttoned cuffs and a collar to protect the neck
• Trouser legs must cover the tops of the boots and must not have cuffs as they can collect sparks.
• Wear layers of clothing so that you can adjust your body temperature easily and avoid sweating. Also ensure clothing is not too tight and allows enough movement for comfort.
• Ensure all pockets are closed to avoid collecting sparks or hot metal and do not contain any sources that could ignite (matches, lighters)
• When standing or sitting use leather aprons to protect your chest and lap from sparks
• Keep clothing clean and free of oils, greases and combustible contaminants.
• Keep clothing dry to reduce risk of electric shock
• Replace clothing with frayed edges, tears or holes
• Remove all jewellery.
• Do not wear synthetic fabrics as they burn vigorously, melt and can cause severe skin burns.
• Dark colours prevent light reflection.
• Note that flame retardant treatments become less effective with repeated laundering so replace regularly

Foot protection:

• Wear sturdy boots in good condition with metatarsal protection to ensure protection for the entire upper foot
• Ensure soles are rubber to protect against electric shock.
• Wear high top boots fully laced to prevent sparks from entering into the boots.
• Use fire-resistant spats strapped around the trouser legs and boot tops, to prevent sparks from bouncing in the top of the boots.

Hand protection:

• Always wear dry, hole-free, insulated welding gloves in good condition. They will help protect your hands from burns, sparks, heat, cuts, scratches, and electric shock.
• Wear gauntlet-type cuff leather gloves or protective sleeves of similar material, to protect wrists and forearms.

Head and ear protection:

• Wear a fire-resistant skull cap or balaclava hood under your helmet to protect your head from burns and UV radiation.
• When working out of position, such as overhead, wear approved earplugs or muffs. They prevent sparks, spatter, and hot metal from entering your ears and causing burns.
• If loud noise is present, wear approved earplugs or muffs to protect your hearing and prevent hearing loss.

Eye protection:

• Wear a suitable welding shield/helmet, including personal eye protection.
• The correct filter lens must be used in welding helmets. Lens shade must be selected based on amperage being used. European standards BS EN 169:2002 and BS EN 379:2003 + A1:2009 give guidance on filters for personal eye protection.
• Even when not welding, wear a welder's face shield to protect your face from radiation and flying particles. Also ensure that adequate eye protection is worn to avoid eye damage.
• Non-reflective curtains and screens should also be used to protect fellow workers from heat and light radiation.

At Air Products our leading ethos is that there is nothing more important than safety. PPE saves lives, therefore, it is paramount that you follow the legislative guidelines and wear and maintain the appropriate equipment properly. However, it is worth noting that PPE is the last line of defence. Risks should be eliminated or controlled at source and safe working practices adhered to at all times.

It is vital that all of your employees who have any interaction with industrial gas cylinders are fully trained on the working practices needed to keep themselves and the workplace safe. Our new online Gas Cylinder Safety training course is ideal for both new starters and those employees requiring refresher training to keep safety top of mind. The simple course is split into 11 core modules, lasts approximately 90 minutes, and can be stopped and re-started at any time. The course is accessible from all devices with individual or group management options and payable via credit card and on successful completion, respondents will receive a certificate of learning. Click to book or for further information.

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Additional Useful Resources

• Safety training for compressed industrial gases
• Safe cylinder handling practices
• HSE website