Welding is a dangerous occupation. Fires, explosions, exposure to fumes and gasses, and electric shock can also result from welding. Welding is not only hazardous for welders themselves, but for any bystanders in the near vicinity of welding operations. Sparks, heat, and noise from welding operations can travel through your facility and injure someone nearby who is not wearing the correct welding personal protective equipment (PPE). However, if you take precautions against the common welding hazards, it is possible to conduct welding operations safely. The key is to be aware of the hazards that are presented by welding so you can take the proper steps to create a safe welding environment in your workplace or facility.

The Importance of Welding Safety in the Workplace

Welding is the joining process in which metals and sometimes plastics are heated, melted, and mixed to produce a joint with properties similar to those of the materials being joined. Welding safety in the workplace is highly important. The welding process is a hazardous workplace activity that exposes more than half a million workers in the U.S. to various health and safety hazards every year.

Any workplace that undertakes welding activities needs to provide a safe and properly outfitted space dedicated to welding. The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration outlines the hazards and solutions available during welding operations. Singer Safety Company also offers a variety of products dedicated to creating a safe environment for the welding process, including welding curtains, welding screens, welding blankets, and more.  

Common Welding Hazards

There are many health hazards associated with welding, cutting, and brazing. While these are some of the dangers posed by welding, it is not an exhaustive list:

Exposure to Fumes and Gasses

Several gasses and fumes are produced during the welding process, including nitrogen oxides, ozone, chromium, nickel oxides, and carbon monoxide. Even breathing in small amounts of these gasses and fumes can be toxic. If you are overexposed to these hazardous products of welding, it can result in severe health issues like respiratory illnesses, cancer, and impaired movement and speech.

Physical Hazards

Welding can also present physical hazards, like burns, eye damage, cuts, and crushed fingers and toes.

Fire and Explosion

Fires and explosions can also occur during welding. The combination of high-temperature welding arcs, UV rays, and molten metal makes welders extremely prone to burns. The sparks and explosion of molten metal produced by welding can travel up to 35 feet from the source, without any barriers protecting the welding area. Since sparks can travel such a distance, any combustible materials in the area can pose a significant fire hazard. It is important to remove any flammable items from the welding area.

Electric Shock

The most immediate and severe risk for a welder is electrocution. During the welding process, live electrical circuits are used to create a pool of molten metal. The sudden discharge of electricity to the welder’s body can result in serious injury or even death. To prevent electric shock during welding, do not weld in damp conditions, while wearing wet clothing, on metal floors or in metal structures, or in any cramped condition where you need to crouch, kneel, or lie down.

Loud Noise

All welding and cutting processes generate noise, but some welding processes are louder and more prolonged than others. The loud noise associated with welding can cause damage to the ears that can be permanent and even result in hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss from welding can result in tinnitus, occasional dizziness (or vertigo), increased heart rate, and high blood pressure.

Exposure to UV and IR Radiation

An intense bloom of UV light is produced when welding. If you look at the light without the right PPE or welding curtains, it can result in a condition called arc-eye, which is both painful and long-lasting. Or, foreign bodies or particulate fumes and gasses can get in a welder’s eye, causing other forms of eye damage.

PPE for Welding

Luckily, many of the hazards that make welding risky are alleviated with the right PPE or personal protective equipment. Welding PPE can help protect you from the dangers of the welding operation.  

Respiratory Protective Equipment

Respiratory protective equipment, or RPE, can keep you safe from welding fumes.

Welding Helmets

A welding helmet protects you from particles, debris, hot slang, chemical burns, and UV radiation.

Fire-Resistant Clothing

Wearing fire-resistant clothing while welding protects you from heat, fire, and radiation created during the welding process, and most importantly, shields you from burns.

Hearing Protection

It is important to wear ear protection that will keep you safe from the noise created by welding in your workplace. If there is a possibility of sparks or splatter entering your ear, you will also need fire-resistant ear muffs.

Boots and Gloves

Welding PPE also includes insulated, flame-resistant gloves and rubber-soled, steel-toed safety shoes to protect you from heat, fire, burns, falling debris, and electric shocks.

Welding Safety Products from Singer Safety Company

Singer Safety Company provides a wide range of safety products designed specifically for the welding industry.

Welding Curtains

Welding curtains provide a protective and flame-resistant barrier between dangerous welding hazards and the rest of your workplace. Our Singer Safety welding curtains are durable, yet light and simple to assemble.

Welding Blankets

Our high-quality TEMP/TEX welding blankets are designed for heat protection and thermal isolation and offer protection up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. They come in two material options, a variety of standard sizes, and all blankets are hemmed and seamed with durable double stitching.

Welding Screens

We offer a variety of welding screens, including portable welding and safety screens, roll-up welding and safety screens, and tri-fold welding and safety screens. Welding screens are an excellent option due to their short assembly time, flexible configurations, and the level of protection and safety they provide.

Prevent Welding Hazards with Singer Safety Company’s Products

Contact Singer Safety Company to order safety products to protect your welders from welding hazards or to learn more about how we can help you keep your workplace safe. Call us today at

(866) 933-2359!