The oil and gas industry is no stranger to hazards, and workers are constantly dealing with things like high temperatures and exposure to toxic substances. Workplace safety should always be a priority, which is where welding and safety screens come into play. These protective barriers can help reduce risks at your facility and create a safer workplace for everyone on site.
In this article, we’ll discuss welding and safety screens for oil and gas companies, the safety benefits of industrial curtains, the problems solved by industrial curtains in oil and gas industries, and the best options for protection during welding.
Protection During Welding
Welding is a common task in the oil and gas industry, used for everything from constructing pipelines to repairing heavy machinery. Unfortunately, welding is also one of the most hazardous tasks on the job site. The intense heat and flying sparks can create risks for workers, but the good news is that welding and safety screens for oil and gas operations can protect welders and nearby employees from these dangers.
Here, we cover some of the ways safety screens offer protection during welding.
Protection from UV and IR Radiation
Welding generates UV and infrared radiation, which can cause eye injuries like “welder’s flash” and skin burns. Welding screens can be used as a barrier for harmful radiation, which can protect both the welder and nearby workers from exposure.
Contain Sparks and Spatter
Welding produces sparks and molten metal spatter that can travel across a room. Welding screens hold these sparks in, lowering the risk of fire or injury and helping to keep nearby workers safe.
Better Visibility
The intense light produced by welding can be a distraction for other workers in the area. Welding screens reduce the impact of this bright glare, allowing others to focus on their own work.
Work and Safety Benefits of Industrial Curtains
Industrial safety curtains can offer additional benefits for oil and gas facilities. These heavy-duty barriers separate work zones, reduce noise, and more. Here, we cover a few of the main ways they create a safer and more efficient workplace.
Control Temperature
Extreme temperatures are common in oil and gas environments. Whether you’re working in a refinery or an offshore rig, industrial curtains can help partition spaces to trap heat or block cold air, creating a more comfortable place to work.
Reduce Noise Pollution
Oil and gas facilities are loud. The constant hum of machinery, hammering, and welding can make it hard to hear and even lead to long-term hearing damage. Industrial safety curtains can reduce noise levels, giving some relief to workers.
Improve Organization
Cluttered workplaces increase the risk of accidents. Safety screens and industrial curtains allow you to section off different work areas to create boundaries between welding zones and other spaces. This helps prevent unnecessary movement through dangerous zones and reduces accidents.
Prevent Exposure to Hazardous Fumes
Oil and gas sites often deal with fumes from welding and other industrial processes. Without proper containment, these fumes can spread across the facility, affecting air quality and worker health. Safety curtains help keep these fumes in specific areas, making it easier to use ventilation systems and reducing people’s overall exposure.
Improve Welding Environment Safety Compliance
Using welding screens can help you comply with safety standards set by organizations like OSHA, which mandate protective measures in welding environments.
Improve Productivity
By creating a contained area for welding, screens allow welders to focus on their work without worrying about hurting others. This leads to better productivity since it reduces interruptions and also allows nearby workers to focus on their own tasks.
Offers Flexibility
Welding screens are available in many sizes and styles, including portable screens that can be moved around as needed. This flexibility means you can use them in different areas or rearrange them based on your work layout.
Problems Solved by Industrial Curtains in Oil and Gas Industries
If you’re facing safety challenges at your facility, industrial curtains could be the solution. Here, we cover some common problems that these curtains can help address.
Uncontrolled Fire Hazards
Unless steps are taken, sparks from welding and grinding can catch on nearby materials. Fire-resistant welding curtains help prevent fires by keeping sparks like these contained.
Frequent Workplace Accidents
When workers are exposed to welding flash burns or tripping hazards caused by scattered tools, injuries are bound to happen. Industrial curtains help define workspaces and keep employees out of harm’s way.
Cross-Contamination of Work Areas
Oil and gas sites often have multiple projects going on at once. Without proper separation, dust and debris can easily spread across the space, affecting worker safety. Industrial safety curtains create areas to minimize this kind of cross-contamination.
Limited Privacy for Sensitive Work
Some tasks may need a confidential workspace. In these instances, welding and safety screens can create private work zones to keep distractions and prying eyes away.
Why Your Facility Needs Welding and Safety Screens
At the end of the day, safety should always come first in the oil and gas industry. Using welding and safety screens is a simple way to protect your team and improve efficiency. These barriers help contain dangerous sparks, prevent exposure to fumes, control noise levels, and create organized workspaces.
By investing in high-quality industrial curtains, you’re taking a big step in creating a safer and more productive work environment for your entire team. If you haven’t already considered adding welding and safety screens to your site, now’s a great time to take action.
Learn More About Welding and Safety Screens for Oil and Gas
At Singer Safety, we offer high-quality welding and safety screens that protect your workers and improve efficiency. Our screens are flame-resistant and are manufactured with two layers of material reinforced with 14-gauge galvanized wire mesh, making them some of the best screens on the market. They have a wide range of uses to help you improve safety.
Ready to get started? Our staff can help you determine which screens will work best for your facility. To learn more, contact us today.
