Safety must be a top priority in any industrial workplace. Proper eye protection is particularly important in industries that involve welding. Many welders experience eye problems owing to prolonged exposure to dust, smoke, and intense light. To safeguard the vision of the workers, therefore, investing in essential personal protective equipment (PPE) like welding goggles or glasses and face shields is extremely important. Such equipment helps minimise injury-related downtime, prevent long-term damage, and play a vital role in promoting a safe and efficient workplace.
Importance of Safety Eyewear for Welding
The practice of welding involves the fusion of metals through the application of high heat. While this process is vital for multiple manufacturing, construction, and repair tasks, it does pose several hazards to the eyes of the workers. This is why safety eyewear, like glasses and a face shield, is important for welding.
Prolonged exposure to UV rays may lead to conditions like photokeratitis, also known as welder’s flash. Infrared (IR) radiation and intense visible light may cause thermal burns. Welding activities may also generate hazardous metal particles and sparks that can easily enter the eyes and lead to infections and injuries. Such particles may cause issues like conjunctivitis and corneal abrasions. Moreover, the intense brightness of the welding arc may impair the vision of a worker temporarily and increase the risk of accidents and injuries. To avoid all such issues, the use of the right safety eyewear, like welding goggles or glasses, is essential.
What Are Welding Goggles?
Welding goggles are a type of protective eyewear that is specially designed to protect against eye injury when welding. They are also known as welding safety glasses. Welding goggles ideally feature two specialised lenses along with an adjustable band. You can wear welding goggles pretty much like most other goggles. Welding goggles play a huge role in making sure that your eyes stay comfortable and safe while carrying out any welding tasks. Safety eyewear, like glasses and face shields provides optimal protection from UV and IR radiation, debris, and sparks, while ensuring a seamless and safe welding experience
Factors to Consider When Buying Welding Goggles
- Frame and Lens Materials: One of the primary factors to consider when buying safety goggles is the material of the frame and lenses. The frame must be durable, sturdy, and capable of withstanding sudden impacts. Some of the common frame materials used today are rubber, nylon and polycarbonate. You need to carefully identify your concerns and explore the features of these frame materials to make an informed decision. When it comes to the lens of the welding goggles, your priority should be to select a material that provides sufficient impact resistance and optical clarity.
- Anti-Fog Coatings: Durability and visibility are among the core elements to think about when buying new safety goggles. While welding, workers need to see things clearly to prevent accidents, making anti-fogging and anti-scratch coating features important in many situations. Welding goggles typically have special lenses to filter out harmful UV and IR rays, while their anti-fog coating ensures a clear line of sight for the welder.
- Adjustable Fit: It is better to buy goggles with adjustable straps or temples to ensure a proper fit.
- Longevity: As welding goggles are usually meant for industrial use, their durability is extremely important. You must buy hard-wearing safety goggles that can last for a long time without breaking. It would be prudent to invest in goggles that have a sturdy construction, impact-resistant lenses, and reinforced frames.
In addition to the factors discussed above, you also need to consider the cost of the welding goggles before purchasing them. However, it is critical not to compromise on the quality of the goggles just to save money, as this equipment is important to ensure the safety of the welders.
