Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Welding and …

1 Safety and Health Fact Sheet No. 33 April 2014. 2014 American Welding Society Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Welding and Cutting INTRODUCTION of the ears, from the direct radiant energy from the arc and from direct Like other jobs or careers, welders must weld spatter.". wear suitable Protective Equipment . In general, Personal Protective Equipment Helmets shall be made of material that (PPE) must protect against hazards such complies with ANSI as burns, sparks, spatter, electric shock, and radiation. The use of PPE is a good Filter lenses and cover plates must safe practice and may be required by meet the tests prescribed in ANSI. regulatory agencies. For example, OSHA requires the use of PPE when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible Wear approved safety glasses with side or effective. shields (or goggles) under your helmet. NATURE OF THE HAZARD The safety glasses with side shields (or goggles) are used to protect against Welding and cutting can produce hazards flying metal, slag chips, grinding such as sparks, spatter, radiation (infrared, fragments, wire wheel bristles, and ultraviolet, and blue light), slag, heat, hot similar hazards, which can ricochet metal, fumes and gases, and even electric under the helmet.

2 Shock. Since these hazards may cause burns, injury, or death, it is important to Choose a filter lens shade according to wear proper PPE at all times. the Lens Shade Selector Chart in ANSI. or AWS Lens Shade EYE AND FACE PROTECTION Selector. Wear a helmet with filter lens and cover Consult AWS Fact Sheet 31, Eye and plate that complies with ANSI for Face Protection for Welding and protection from radiant energy, flying Cutting Operations. sparks, and spatter. HEAD AND EAR PROTECTION. According to ANSI and OSHA 29. CFR , "Helmets and hand Wear a fire-resistant welder's cap or shields shall protect the face, forehead, other head covering under your helmet. neck, and ears to a vertical line in back It will protect your head and hair from American Welding Society AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature 8669 Doral Blvd. whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly Doral, Florida 33166 resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this information.

3 AWS also makes no E-mail: guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein. Page 1/3. Fact Sheet No. 33 04/14. flying sparks, spatter, burns, and radiation. ANSI requires all welders to wear Protective flame-resistant gloves, such When working out of position, such as as leather welder's gloves. They should overhead, wear approved ear-plugs or provide the heat resistance and general muffs. They prevent sparks, spatter, hand protection needed for Welding . and hot metal from entering your ears and causing burns. BODY PROTECTION. If loud noise is present, wear approved Wear oil-free Protective clothing made earplugs or muffs to protect your of wool or heavy cotton. Heavier hearing and prevent hearing loss. materials work best. They are harder to ignite and resist wear and damage. FOOT PROTECTION. Choose clothing that allows freedom of Select boots that meet the movement and covers all areas of requirements of ASTM F2412 and exposed skin.

4 Wear long sleeved shirts ASTM F2413 (or the older ANSI Z41 (no t-shirts), and button the cuffs, which has been withdrawn). Look for a pockets, and collar. They will protect compliance mark inside your boot. your arms and neck from radiation exposure and skin burns (caused by Wear leather, steel-toed, high-topped ultraviolet radiation from the arc). boots in good condition. They will help protect your feet and ankles from injury. Wear heavy, durable, long pants (no shorts) without cuffs that overlap the In heavy spark or slag areas, use fire- tops of your boots. resistant boot protectors or leather spats strapped around your pant legs and boot tops to prevent injury and Keep clothing dry. Change it when burns. needed (this reduces the possibility of electric shock). Do not wear pants with cuffs. Wear the bottoms of your pants over the tops of Be aware that any cuffs or open your boots to keep out sparks and flying pockets can catch flying sparks and metal.

5 Do not tuck pant legs into your start on fire easily. Unroll cuffs and boots. button pockets to prevent spark entry. HAND PROTECTION Keep clothing clean (free of oil, grease, or solvents which may catch fire and Always wear dry, hole-free, insulated burn easily). Keep it in good repair (no Welding gloves in good condition. They holes, tears, or frayed edges). Always will help protect your hands from burns, follow the manufacturer's directions for sparks, heat, cuts, scratches, and their use, care, and maintenance. electric shock. American Welding Society AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature 8669 Doral Blvd. whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly Doral, Florida 33166 resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this information. AWS also makes no E-mail: guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.

6 Page 2/3. Fact Sheet No. 33 04/14. Remove all flammables and matches Allied Processes, , available from and cigarette lighters from your American Welding Society, 8669 Doral pockets. Blvd., Doral, FL 33166; Web site: Do not wear synthetic (man-made). fabrics because they may burn easily, American National Standards Institute melt, stick to your skin, and cause (ANSI). Practice for Occupational and serious burns. Educational Eye and Face Protection (ANSI ), available from ANSI, 11. West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036- Wear leather aprons, leggings, capes 8002; Web site: and sleeves as needed for the application. Leather protects better than Occupational Safety and Health most materials. Administration (OSHA). Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29 Labor, Part 1910, Read ANSI It gives a full available from the Government explanation of the Protective clothing Printing Office, 732 North Capitol Street needed when Welding or cutting.

7 In brief, NW, Washington, DC 20401; Web site: states that Clothing shall provide sufficient coverage, and be made of suitable materials, to minimize skin burns National Fire Protection Association caused by sparks, spatter, or radiation.. (NFPA). Standard for Fire Prevention Full details are in the document. during Welding , Cutting, and Other Hot Work (NFPA 51B), available from National RESPIRATORY Protective . Fire Protection Association, 1. Equipment . Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269 . 9101; Web site: For information on respirators, see ANSI. and Fact Sheet 37. Also see OSHA American Welding Society (AWS). Safety and NIOSH regulations. and Health Fact Sheet No. 31, Eye and Face Protection for Welding and Cutting SUMMARY Operations, available from American Welding Society, 8669 Doral Blvd., Doral, Protect all areas of your body from injury FL 33166; Web site: during Welding or cutting by wearing the proper Protective clothing and Equipment .

8 ASTM International Standards, F2412, Do not weld or cut unless wearing the Test Methods for Foot Protection, and necessary PPE as specified in this Fact F2413, Specification for Performance Sheet and in ANSI Requirements for Protective Footwear, available from ASTM International, 100 Bar INFORMATION SOURCES Harbor Drive, Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2559; Web site: American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Safety in Welding , Cutting, and American Welding Society AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature 8669 Doral Blvd. whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly Doral, Florida 33166 resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this information. AWS also makes no E-mail: guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein. Page 3/3.

9 Fact Sheet No. 33 04/14.