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It’s crucial that people doing hot work wear flame-retardant clothing and protective equipment for the eyes, ears, and head. Necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) includes the following:
Clothing
At 1910.252(b)(3), the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) states, “Appropriate protective clothing required for any welding operation will vary with the size, nature and location of the work to be performed."
This generally means long sleeves and long pants to protect from welding arc burns and welding spatter, but these are not required. Rather, this must be determined based upon the site’s hazard assessment.
With regard to flame-resistant clothing (FRC), OSHA says in a January 12, 2012, Letter of Interpretation that “if welders are exposed to flash fires or short-duration flame exposures, OSHA expects that employers would provide and ensure the use of FRC to protect workers from these hazards . . . Employees wearing FRC may be exposed to hazards relating to heat stress. Therefore, employers should consider the following when selecting personal protective equipment for employees that are exposed to these adverse conditions: provide light weight breathable fabrics and allow employees to drink cold liquids, such as water and other electrolyte replenishing drinks.”
Gas-shielded arc welders should cover all parts of their bodies to protect against ultraviolet and infrared ray flash burn. Dark clothing works best to reduce reflection under the face shield.
Wool, leather, or cotton treated to reduce flammability are preferred for gas-shielded arc welding. Wool has an advantage over cotton because it resists deterioration better. Regardless of material, clothing should be:
Pants shouldn’t have cuffs or front pockets that could catch sparks.
If worn, thermal insulated underwear should be covered by other clothing and not exposed to sparks or other ignition sources. It should be down-filled or waffle weave cotton or wool. Synthetic fabrics won’t necessarily ignite more easily than cotton, but they melt as they burn, sticking tightly to skin, which can result in a very serious burn that is hard to treat and slow to heal.
It’s crucial that people doing hot work wear flame-retardant clothing and protective equipment for the eyes, ears, and head. Necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) includes the following:
Clothing
At 1910.252(b)(3), the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) states, “Appropriate protective clothing required for any welding operation will vary with the size, nature and location of the work to be performed."
This generally means long sleeves and long pants to protect from welding arc burns and welding spatter, but these are not required. Rather, this must be determined based upon the site’s hazard assessment.
With regard to flame-resistant clothing (FRC), OSHA says in a January 12, 2012, Letter of Interpretation that “if welders are exposed to flash fires or short-duration flame exposures, OSHA expects that employers would provide and ensure the use of FRC to protect workers from these hazards . . . Employees wearing FRC may be exposed to hazards relating to heat stress. Therefore, employers should consider the following when selecting personal protective equipment for employees that are exposed to these adverse conditions: provide light weight breathable fabrics and allow employees to drink cold liquids, such as water and other electrolyte replenishing drinks.”
Gas-shielded arc welders should cover all parts of their bodies to protect against ultraviolet and infrared ray flash burn. Dark clothing works best to reduce reflection under the face shield.
Wool, leather, or cotton treated to reduce flammability are preferred for gas-shielded arc welding. Wool has an advantage over cotton because it resists deterioration better. Regardless of material, clothing should be:
Pants shouldn’t have cuffs or front pockets that could catch sparks.
If worn, thermal insulated underwear should be covered by other clothing and not exposed to sparks or other ignition sources. It should be down-filled or waffle weave cotton or wool. Synthetic fabrics won’t necessarily ignite more easily than cotton, but they melt as they burn, sticking tightly to skin, which can result in a very serious burn that is hard to treat and slow to heal.