It's All About Safety: Four Areas of the Body You Need to Protect While You're Welding
If you're about to begin work as a welder, don't forget about your personal protection equipment. You'll need to make sure that every part of your body is well-protected while you're working. There are quite a few safety factors you need to consider while you're welding. Here are four crucial areas you'll need to consider now that you're putting together your personal protective gear.
Face
If you're going to be welding, your face is the first area of your body that you need to protect. You don't want any part of your face to be exposed to the welding process. Flying particles, slag, and sparks can all cause serious burns to your face and eyes. Not to mention the radiation that will be emitted while you're welding. To protect your face and eyes, always wear protective goggles and a welding mask when you're working.
Lungs
If you're going to be working as a welder, you'll need to protect your lungs. Fumes and oxides can wreak havoc on your lungs if you're not careful. The best way to protect your lungs from damage is to invest in a good respirator. Respirators filter out the harmful fumes and oxides so that your lungs are well-protected. Be sure to replace the filters on a regular basis—you don't want to breathe through contaminated filters.
Hands and Feet
When you're going to be around welding equipment on a daily basis, you'll need to protect your hands and feet. Without proper protection, your hands and feet can be severely burned by flying debris, radiation, and the heat that is emitted from the welding arc. For maximum protection, you should always wear heavy-duty insulated gloves and rubber-soled, steel-toed shoes when working with your welding equipment.
Ears
When it comes to personal protective gear for welding, you might not think about your ears. Unfortunately, that can leave you exposed to hearing damage and hearing loss. Before you begin work, you'll need to invest in quality ear protection. For maximum protection, your ear muffs should cover the entire ear. The right ear muffs will protect against noise damage, but they'll also protect against burns caused by flying sparks and debris.
Now that you'll be working as a welder, your safety should be your primary concern. Before you begin work, make sure you have the personal protective gear described in the information provided above—you don't want an accident to happen because you didn't get the right gear.
