Auto Darkening Welding Helmets:

While some people still stick to using standard welding helmets, auto darkening welding helmets are now gaining more popularity in the market. Helmets with auto dark lens could decrease the penetration of light whenever it is energized so that the lens appears dark in the center but light towards the outer areas. It also gives lighter, clearer views in angles that are not perpendicular to the surface of the filter. It’s really easier and more comfortable to work with helmets that have auto dark lens. They normally come with filters too that protect the eyes from ultraviolet or infrared rays.

Since this type of welding helmets darken and lighten up automatically, those who use it do not need to take it off as they work. There is no need to adjust the shade since it’s quite automatic. It generally costs more than the standard helmets though. The price of auto darkening welding helmets normally range from a hundred dollars to five hundred dollars, with more expensive ones offering more features or being made of more pricey, durable and flexible materials.

Welders Clothing:

Since welding produce powerful heat and burning sparks that may cause serious burns, it is important to dress in the correct work clothing. The following describes the type of clothing suitable for welding process.

Welders Shirts:

Welders Shirts must be made of thick weighty cloths such as heavy cotton or denim that is not simply burned. The Welders shirts have to be long sleeved and must not contain pockets if they contain button flaps on them. Open pockets might catch burning sparks or globules of hot metal that can burn the skin. The Welder shirt ought to not contain frayed ends that sparks from welding can simply catch fire. The Welders work shirt must not have any torn areas that permit hot sparks to go through. Don’t have Matches, lighters, or paper materials in shirt or pants pockets in the time of welding.

Welders Pants:

The Welders pants must be close fitting and prepared of a weighty cloths such as work jeans. Overalls are suitable if other clothing is worn in them. The Welders pants must be long sufficient to cover the top of the boots and contain no cuffs that may trap sparks or burning slag. Like the shirts the pants are supposed to contain no frayed ends or torn areas in them. It is suggested not to have metal keys or other devices dangling from the pants that can arc against the work area.

Welders Boots:

High top leather boots are necessary for welding and common shop use. Canvas boots or clothing shoes should not be damaged. The boots is supposed to fasten all the method up to stop sparks falling into them. Leather laces that will not simply burn or smolder must be used. Dress in heavy work socks not nylon or thinner socks for additional guard against sparks. Security boots with strengthen toe caps are suitable for welding shops and work to defend the feet. Spats or leggings are leather pieces that fit over the top of the boot to stop sparks falling into the boots and are available at welding provide stores.

Welders Caps:

A Welder cap or few form of head covering must be used for welding, particularly in other than the flat place. The cap has to be companionable with the welding head equipment called the welding helmet. Welder’s caps or welders beanies (cap with no peaks) are available from all welding equipments providing stores.

Points to remember before buy Welding Helmets:

On the work or in the garage, each welder wants protection to prevent eye injure. Because a universal law, spending more on a welding helmet will increase comfort, get better your welding ability, result in superior quality welds and make sure your safety. Unluckily, selecting a welding helmet can be confusing if you are not well-known with the newest auto-darkening lens technology and nationwide safety standards. The following points will help you sort through the clutter and point out the most important things to think previous to investing in this important piece of security gear(welding helmets), while showcasing some of the industry’s top trends and designs.

* Auto-Darkening or Standard Glass Lens

* Fixed or Variable Shade

* Switching Speed (Lens Reaction Time)

* welding Helmet Weight

* Solar Power and Battery Life

* Adjustable Sensitivity and Delay Controls

* National Safety Standards

* Buyer Beware

Power vision helmets

Welding helmets are the protective gears to welders. It protects the eyes, face neck etc; in general it protects the sense organs. What is the use of it? Welding helmets are essential during the welding process since the welding process creates an electric arc and flames which are dangerous to the sense organs. So the welder should wear the quality helmet which gives him protection. Power vision helmets are categorized into three types such as strongman, fabricator and defender. Strongman helmet has the perfect clarity which allows to see weld pool. It has lithium battery whose life is excess of 5000 hrs and also solar assisted for increased battery life. It is used in pipeline industry, machine shops and in construction sites etc. Fabricator helmet also has the same features and it reduces night blindness. Defender type has four sensors while the former two has two sensors and its adjustable sensitivity allows for use at low amperages.

Avoid Electric Shock While Welding

It is important to take precautions to avoid electric shock. The following are especially important precautions to be taken:

• Clothing. shoes, gloves and other protective equipment shall be kept as dry as possible.


• Always wear approved hand protection and never permit the metal part of an electrode or holder to touch your body.


• Electrodes shall be removed from the holder when not in use. Electrode holders when not in use shall be placed so they cannot make electrical contact with persons or conductive objects. Be careful to avoid shock when changing electrodes.


• Check equipment regularly to see that electrical connections and cable are in good condition. Be particularly alert that the electrode holder cable connection is in good condition and secure. Only approved ground connecting devices and rod holders shall be used.


• All welding lines and connections shall be insulated.


• Welding machines shall be shut off when work is stopped.


• Only authorized employees shall make repairs on welding machines.
  

To read the rest of the article http://www.ehs.pitt.edu/assets/docs/hot-guide.pdf

Welding Safety for Welders

Welding Location
Never weld or cut materials near or around flammable materials. Materials that are flammable, or materials that may catch fire, must be moved a safe distance from any operation that may ignite these materials.

Safety Glasses
Welding helmets do not satisfy the requirement for primary eye protection. Safety glasses must be worn under arc welding helmets to fulfill the eye protection requirement.

Contact Lenses
Never wear contact lenses while welding. Contact lenses can literally be welded to your eyes by the intense thermal radiation produced by many welding processes.

Hot materials
Never pick up hot materials with welding gloves. Never touch metal to see if it is hot. Place you bare hand above the material and feel for radiated heat to determine the temperature. Use a piece of soapstone to label "hot" material if you must leave the area before the material cools down.

Acetylene Regulators
Always set acetylene regulators to less than 15 psi. Above 15 psi, acetylene becomes explosively unstable. Always back the acetylene regulator pressure completely off before installing a new gas bottle. The acetylene valve on the bottle should only be opened 1/4 to 1/2 turn so that it can quickly be closed in an emergency.

High Pressure Gas Regulators
Most bottled gases (exceptacetylene) utilize high-pressure regulators. These regulators should be backed off before installing them on a new gas bottle. The bottle valve has a double seat and should be opened all the way to prevent leakage around the valve stem.

Welding Ventilation
Never weld in an enclosed area without proper ventilation. Many welding operations produce noxious and sometimes toxic gases. Never weld or cut galvanized materials without specially designed ventilation.

Protective Clothing
All forms of electric arc welding and cutting produce extremely intense ultraviolet and infrared light that can cause serious burns to unprotected skin. These intense burns are suspected as promoting skin cancer in later years. Always wear appropriate protective clothing including
welding gloves, long sleeves, long pants, leather footwear, etc.

Wire Wheels
A face shield is required to be worn over your safety glasses when using a wire wheel.

Welding Hoods
Inspect the welding hood before use to ensure that the lenses and filters are in good condition, and of the proper shading, for the operation being performed. Never attempt to weld without proper eye protection.

Acetylene Cutting and Welding Safe Operating Procedures

• Cylinders, cylinder valves, couplings, regulators, hose, and apparatus must be kept
  free from oily or greasy substances.
• Oxygen cylinders or apparatus must not be handled with oily hands or gloves.
• A jet of oxygen must never be permitted to strike an oily surface, greasy clothes, or
  enter a fuel oil or other storage tank.
• When transporting cylinders by a crane or derrick, a cradle, boat, or suitable platform
  shall be used. Slings or electric magnets shall not be used for this purpose.
• Valve-protection caps, where cylinder is designed to accept a cap, must always be in
  place.
• Cylinders must not be dropped or struck or permitted to strike each other violently.
  Valve-protection caps must not be used for lifting cylinders from one vertical position
  to another.
• Bars must not be used under valves or valve-protection caps to pry cylinders loose
  when frozen to the ground or otherwise fixed; the use of warm (not boiling) water is
  recommended.
• Valve-protection caps are designed to protect cylinder valves from damage.
• Unless cylinders are secured on a special truck, regulators must be removed and
  valve-protection caps, when provided for, must be put in place before cylinders are
  moved.
• Cylinders not having fixed hand wheels must have keys, handles, or nonadjustable
  wrenches on valve stems while these cylinders are in service. In multiple cylinder
  installations only one key or handle is required for each manifold.
• Cylinder valves must be closed before moving cylinders.
• Cylinder valves must be closed when work is finished.

Welding Tragedies

Safety Precautions For Engine Powered Welders

• Always activate in an open well-ventilated area or vent the engine exhaust directly outdoors.
• Never fuel the engine while running or in the occurrence of an open flame.
• Wipe up spilled fuel instantly and wait for fumes to disperse before starting the engine. Never eliminate the radiator pressure cap from liquid cooled engines while they are hot to prevent scalding yourself.
• Stop the engine before performing any preservation or trouble shooting. The explosion system should be disabled to prevent unintentional start of the engine.
• Keep all guards and shields in place.
• Keep hands, hair, and clothing away from moving parts.

FIRST AID

The welding area should always be prepared with a fire blanket and a well stocked first aid kit. It is enviable that one person be trained in first aid to treat the minor injuries that may occur. All injuries, no matter how minor they may seem can become more serious if not properly treated by trained medical personnel.