Welding Hazards

Welding Hazards in the Workplace

Welding is crucial to a wide range of functions in construction, manufacturing, and many other industries, but it also carries dangers. Welding involves the use of extremely high voltages and temperatures, and without proper protection, it can expose workers to serious health and safety hazards. At Steel Guard Safety, our mission is to make your workplace safer with high-quality industrial safety curtains and barriers, and if you’re curious to know more of the workplace hazards posed by welding, we can help.

The Dangers of Welding for Workers

Welding may be a convenient, effective way to build and repair things, but it’s also extremely hazardous. Whether MIG welding, TIG welding, or any other form, using a welder involves temperatures that can range from 3,000º to 20,000º C or even higher, and these extreme temperatures produce a variety of risks to the safety of workers. In particular, welding produces four main categories of safety hazards:

• Electrocution: Welders use electricity to fuse metals together at high temperatures, and that means electrocution is one of the most direct risks of welding. Without proper protective equipment and procedures, the risk of a sudden electric discharge can be extremely dangerous.
• Fumes: The high temperatures and materials used in welding generate gases and fumes that can be hazardous to health, especially with long-term exposure.
• Burns & Cuts: The sparks, slag, and other hazardous materials involved in welding have the potential to cause burns and cuts to human skin. And because sparks can fly long distances, they may damage nearby workers as well.
• Fire: Not only can welding threaten to burn workers, but it can also start fires in the workplace. Any flammable materials around a welding site are an extreme fire risk.

Protect Your Workers with Industrial Welding Curtains

Proper protective gear is crucial to any workers engaged in welding activities, but it’s only the first step. To maximize the safety of your workplace, you should always invest in high-quality, industrial-strength welding curtains and screens to prevent fires, explosions, and damage to nearby workers. At Steel Guard, our industrial safety products are second to none – so order our welding curtains online today.