During work with the welding machine , various negative consequences are possible. To prevent them from happening, special welding suits were invented that help minimize the effects of chemical dust, fumes, explosive gases, sprays, etc. In addition, without a uniform, a worker can receive radiation coming from the working arc of the ultraviolet and infrared ranges.
What is overalls intended for?
The profession of a welder is considered one of the most dangerous, since during work you can get burns and injuries from open fire, sparks and splashes of liquid metal and slag, and the high temperature of the molten bath. Also, the activity is accompanied by constant noise during the processing of materials, and there is a rather high probability of falling under the negative effect of electric current.
Often, workers find themselves in uncomfortable conditions, in confined spaces or at a very decent height, where there is a risk of falling of the person himself or working mechanisms, various objects, etc. Welding suits that need to be worn when performing any kind of the above work will help protect and preserve health .
Kit Composition
In terms of protection, the focus is primarily on the face, eyes that need to be protected from strong radiation and light, hot spray and waste. To do this, put on glasses equipped with filters, a helmet or a shield, hats (in other words they are called comforters) made of fireproof matter. To protect the respiratory system from exposure to vapors, oxides, fumes, welding suits include special respirators.
The basis of the kit is made up of a jacket and trousers made of tested, fire-resistant materials. These items of workwear protect the entire body from minor local burns. Uniform pants are sewn without cuffs, and the jacket contains only those pockets that have fasteners in the form of Velcro or flaps. This prevents sparks or incandescent particles of slag from entering the pocket during operation.
Work Suit Requirements
The suit for welding works according to the requirements is made exclusively of natural fabrics with special impregnation, which protects the worker from radiation, molten metal, fire sparks, etc. Before work, the owner must pay attention to the fact that the robe does not have stains on its surface from greases, oils fuel. Also, you can not wear a suit with torn edges, scuffs, tears of fabric. Why? All these seemingly minor injuries can contribute to injuries, burns. A dark-colored shirt with long sleeves is usually worn under the jacket. Cuffs with fasteners and a collar should be present on the sleeves to additionally protect exposed skin on the neck and wrists.
It is excluded to use synthetic material for the manufacture of workwear. Such material ignites faster, which means it carries a danger.
How to wear
Welders during the work are protected not only by high-quality welding suits, but also by the correct way of wearing them. For example, trousers should be worn over shoes (whether boots or boots) so that the shafts are completely closed. In addition, on the sleeves of the jacket in the elbow area, special leather pads are made. The same pieces of leather are sewn on the knees to enhance the durability of the clothes. As for the buttons, they are covered with a bar to hide from exposure to high temperature.
What is not recommended to take with you? It is strictly forbidden to carry lighters, matches, paper in pockets, since all this poses an additional fire hazard.
Types of suits for welding
Among the main types of welding suits, it is necessary to distinguish the following:
- canvas,
- suede,
- leather,
- cloth,
- split.
Each of these species has its pros and cons. So, a leather suit protects well from scale, but it is inconvenient in the summer, as the skin heats up quickly, and the employee is very hot in it. The tarpaulin suit has high strength due to the density of the material and has excellent ventilation. Its disadvantage is that the tarpaulin burns faster under the influence of high temperature. Overalls made of suede are waterproof, but with prolonged use with fire, this material can also catch fire.
If we classify overalls based on the climatic conditions in which the welder should work, then the robes can be conditionally divided into summer and winter. In addition, costumes are combined and selection. What is the difference? As a rule, overalls are included in the combined version, and the selection means the presence of a separate jacket and pants. One of the striking examples of the selection options is the welding suit “Zeus”, made using the fireproof technology “Proban”. It consists of pants with elastic braid on the belt, a jacket with a turn-down collar. In the area of the knees, pockets for cushioning inserts are provided.
Split welding suit
Spilk welding suits, which have a high degree of protection and are perfect for hazardous work, are especially popular today. Such clothes are lined with a split - a substance obtained as a result of a special treatment of the skin.
Previously, ordinary batting acted as a heater. A modern robe is sewn using a multilayer synthetic winterizer. This material is good because it has virtually no weight, “breathes”, that is, it passes air well and repels moisture. For guaranteed protection for the employee, such a heater, split leather and dense tarpaulin are combined.
Warm suits
Due to the fact that gas welding is carried out year-round, manufacturing companies produce both winter and summer welding suits. Photos of various types of overalls are presented on the pages of online stores. So, for the winter they make warmed suits, for which they take several layers of the base material and various kinds of insulation.
Suits for work in the Far North, where there are very severe frosts, are a separate series. In such conditions, especially warm clothes are necessary, since work can take a long time. Here, the front of the jacket is covered with split leather, and in some cases, the back and yoke are covered with split leather. Pants are also equipped with split pads. Secret fasteners are required. Also in the robe may be a hood and windproof valves.
Additional workwear items
While working in a sitting or standing position, it will additionally protect a leather apron that covers almost the entire body well (from the chest to the ankles). The red-hot particles of slag and metal falling on this apron will not damage the welding suit. The winter version of workwear also includes warm mittens or gloves with gaiters. It is worth noting that in the robe special ventilation holes are made, since the material is very dense.
Separate requirements are put forward for shoes. These can be shoes or boots, for which a special non-stick rubber is taken to make the sole, which provides protection from the effects of electricity and flame.
Shields and masks
Suits for welding protect the body, and how to protect against burns and radiation of the eye? To do this, shields were used for a long time, and then masks made of cardboard and masks "chameleon". It is also permitted to wear special glasses.
Recently, shields have already lost relevance, since in practice they are inconvenient to use. The welder is forced to hold the shield with one hand and perform work with the other. A mask made of thick cardboard equipped with a viewing window with a filter is more practical in this regard. Its disadvantage is that at first the person must see the place of work, and then lower the mask with a nod of the head or simply with a hand. These few seconds are enough to damage your eyesight.
The chameleon mask does not need to be raised before work. Instead of a traditional light filter, glass is built into it, which acquires a dark color during the ignition of the arc. At the same time, it is possible to customize such a mask for yourself.