Welding safety
I can’t find a good answer for two welding safety issues.
Assuming a 35 ft hot work area does everyone need a welding mask inside the area regardless of work? The intensity of welding can damage you eyes even if just reflected in the back of a helmet so I feel the answer is yes.
At what distance from pedestrians is welding without a curtain safe ? Must they always be used ? What if everyone has hazard awareness training not to look at it.
How can you control this at a construction site vs a manufacturing site.
Comments (3)
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When you say "welding mask", are you referring to a respirator or a wedding helmet/hood?
If you're referring to a respirator, you only need it if you're above the applicable OELs for whatever metal you're welding on (e.g., Cr VI for welding on stainless steel, Mn, and Be to name a few). However, you have to perform air sampling first to determine those levels, so they'd need to wear respiratory protection until you can confirm it's not above the OELs in their breathing zone. Even then, periodic re-testing may still be required by OSHA.
If you're referring to a welding helmet/hood, keep in mind that you don't have to be looking directly at an arc to get damage. The UV and IR can be damaging to your skin, as well. All the time, I see people try to do a "quick tack" weld by simply turning their head the other way, when in reality, they're still exposed to harmful UV and IR radiation, and over time, that can be damaging when you're that close to the arc. Regardless, if you're 10+ ft. away and have your back turned to the arc, you shouldn't need any welding helmet hood. If you're within 10 feet or so, would recommend either that or a welding curtain.
In my opinion, why don't you just buy a few portable welding curtains and put them up next to the welding operations and call it a day? That'll limit the UV and IR exposure to others, without reducing too much of the pedestrian walkways.
I've seen a "50-Foot Rule" thrown around over the years as far as a recommended safe distance at which the arc is no longer a hazard to your eyes, but I've never been able to find a credible source for that, so can't vouch to the validity of it. I do know that the intensity of the arc radiant energy depends on many factors, including current, voltage, and the materials used, so there may not be a "standard safe distance" per se.
What kind of welding we talking? What metals and other hazards? Other Flammable materials near by?
Drew’s advice sounds very reasonable to me! My metals teacher back in Jr High use to say, “If ultra-violet light from the sun can burn your eyes from 93 million miles, what will do to your eyes from a few feet from an arc-welder?