Using Welding Screens to Create Safer Temporary Work Zones

Anyone who has worked in a welding environment understands just how hazardous it can be. To reduce these risks, it is essential to implement effective safety measures like welding screens. These industrial safety barriers help keep employees out of harm’s way while also providing flexible, temporary work zones that can be set up and taken down as needed.

Keep reading to find out more about the hazards of welding environments and how industrial safety barriers can help mitigate these risks.

Top Safety Hazards in Welding Work Sites

Before we discuss the safety solutions for welding worksites, you should first understand the risks. Like most industrial jobs, welding can pose a variety of hazards to workers, especially if you are not proactive in establishing safety measures.

Loud Noises

Although not as loud as some industrial jobs, welding can become quite loud over time. Regular exposure to this noise can cause hearing damage, with the potential for complete hearing loss.

You also have to consider the workers exposed to this noise, even if they aren’t doing the welding themselves. In fact, nearby workers may be more at risk since they’re also exposed but usually aren’t wearing the appropriate ear protection.

Gas & Vapors

Some harmful by-products of welding include gases and vapors that can form when galvanized metal is heated. Even relatively short-term exposure to these gases and vapors can have devastating effects, as fine particles can infiltrate your workers’ lungs.

Airborne particles also pose a significant risk to anyone working near welding operations, as they may not be wearing respirator masks.

Heat & Fire Exposure

Everyone knows that welding generates a lot of heat, but the risks are often underestimated. Welding can become so hot that there is a risk of combustion and sparks. Long-term exposure to high temperatures also poses risks to workers unless they consistently use the right protective gear.

UV Radiation

UV radiation can cause irreparable damage to the eyes and skin with regular exposure. This risk isn’t limited to welders themselves, as UV radiation can cause damage from a distance.

Electric Shocks

Welding operations involving metal objects with an electrical current can cause electrical shocks. This is a very prevalent risk for welders and can result in serious or even life-threatening injuries.

What Are Welding Screens?

Welding screens are a more modern industrial safety solution that comes in the form of a panel that you can mount on frames and move around as needed. These screens have a light and flexible design featuring heavy-duty materials designed specifically for welding exposure.

Depending on your needs, you can get customized screens in a variety of materials. Most have a semi-transparent design, allowing some light to trickle through without exposing other workers to welding hazards. However, you can also get screens that are completely opaque or transparent.

Welding Screens vs. Welding Booth Curtains

In addition to welding screens, you also have the option of using welding curtains. Both safety solutions have a similar design and serve the same purpose: enhancing worker safety in industrial spaces. However, these safety options do have some differences that may make one solution better than the other in certain environments.

Welding screens provide greater flexibility as you can mount them on frames and wheel them around the worksite. Once you have assembled them, they are good to go, and you can easily move or store them away for later as needed.

On the other hand, welding curtains require a bit more setup as they hang from ceiling tracks, usually creating semi-permanent welding zones. Although you can change the setup of your welding curtains, it will take more time and a bit more configuration.

Whether you should implement welding screens or welding booth curtains completely depends on your safety and workplace needs.

How Safety Partitions Improve Welding Safety 

Welding curtain walls have become the standard for industrial safety, especially in more hazardous work zones. Although it’s impossible to eliminate all industrial hazards, you can take advantage of these safety solutions to better protect your employees.

Here are some ways safety partitions can help you protect your employees:

• Reduced Noise: One of the most significant hazards of welding zones is the noise exposure. Employees have a significant risk of sustaining long-term hearing damage, even if they aren’t doing the welding themselves. Industrial curtains help isolate and reduce this noise.
• Containment: Welding generates debris, UV radiation, gases, vapors, and more. Industrial curtains help contain these hazards so that other employees aren’t exposed to them.
• Temperature Isolation: Similar to debris containment, industrial curtains also help to isolate extreme temperatures. Welding usually generates a lot of heat and can result in combustion and sparks. Curtains isolate these extreme temperatures and protect employees from exposure.
• Clear Work Zone: In an industrial environment, you probably have many different work zones. Welding screens help to clearly identify where welding is taking place, so employees know to be more cautious in those areas and wear protective gear when working nearby.

It’s important to keep in mind that although industrial barriers offer many benefits, they don’t take the place of safety equipment. Your industrial welders still need to wear the correct safety gear when performing welding operations.

Invest in Industrial Safety Barriers From Singer Safety

Do you want to use industrial welding screens to protect your employees from welding hazards? At Singer Safety, we have made it our mission to improve workplace safety and efficiency with flexible safety solutions. Our welding booth curtains provide a temporary and cost-effective way to reduce exposure to hazards.

Contact our team today at Singer Safety to learn more about our safety solutions and how you can customize them.