Choosing a welding kit

When employers select work equipment, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 require them to consider the risks posed to the health and safety of people using that equipment. This includes ergonomic risks.

When selecting a welding set, consider the effect poor equipment handling might have:

■personal suffering caused by injuries;
■the financial burden of sickness absence;
■reduced productivity;
■increased insurance premiums; and
■the welder being unable to return to this type of work, which would affect their potential future earnings.

Reducing injuries caused by handling welding equipment will benefit everybody.
Here are some ergonomic design features to look for when deciding between welding sets with the same power output:
■Does the set have to be carried? Consider controlled pushing or pulling of the load instead of lifting and carrying.
■How easily can the load be grasped?

Health and Safety Executive
■Are the handles suitable?
■Can the load be held close to the body (avoid sharp corners, jagged edges, rough surfaces etc)?
■Is it well balanced?

Other considerations include:
■handle orientation;
■ease of pushing/pulling;
■axle types;
■size of wheels;
■wear and maintenance of wheels/tyres;
■effect of torch, wire feed, hoses, gas bottles etc on the handling characteristics of the welding set.

The checklist in this leaflet will help you select the right welding set.