Welding light & smoke dangers, How Optrel can help

Welders, along with those who perform welding-related functions, make up close to 10% of the manufacturing workforce. Of these almost 2 million workers, an estimated 365,000 fall victim to work-related eye injuries each year. This is nearly 1’400 a day!*

• Hot meta slag burns
• Injuries from flying particles
• Exposure to ultraviolet and infrared (UV/IR)
• Exposure to irritating or aggressive fumes, vapors, and chemicals

UV radiation can produce an injury to the surface and mucous membrane (conjunctiva) of the eye called "arc eye," "welders' eye" or "arc flash." These names are common names for "conjunctivitis" - an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the front of the eye.

Welder's skin is always prone to UV radiation which will burn unprotected skin just like UV radiation in sunlight. Long-term exposure to UV radiation can cause skin cancer.

Prolonged exposure to welding fume may cause lung damage and various types of cancer, including lung, larynx, and urinary tract. Health effects from certain fumes may include metal fume fever, stomach ulcers, kidney damage, and nervous system damage.

Respiratory Tract and Lungs

Against gas, vapors, smoke, dust, and particles

Fumes, smokes and particles

Through breathing, fumes, smokes, and particles reach the lungs and from there go into the bloodstream resulting in Long-term and/or acute damages

Gases, vapors

They can displace oxygen and by this can cause a lack of oxygen. Through breathing contaminative or toxic substances reach the bloodstream resulting in Unconsciousness and/or serious acute / or long-term damages

How do welders need to be protected?

• Wear a helmet, covering the whole face, ears, and neck
• Depending on the need: wear leather protection for the chest and the head
• Wear protective clothing for the body
• Wear appropriate gloves to protect the hands and arms

INTRODUCING OPTREL ADF HELMETS FROM SWITZERLAND

Optrel welding helmets filter all the unwanted UV and IR radiations and lets only the visible light passes through – giving full protection

The optrel e3000 ventilated breathing system with its integrated particle filter of the highest class (TH3) reliably protects the welder‘s airways from smoke, aerosol, and dust when used in conjunction with an optrel PAPR welder‘s helmet.

It filters out 99.8% of the respirable particles, such as the following:

aluminum oxide                                                  

iron oxide

magnesium oxide

barium compounds

lead oxide

fluorides

copper oxide

manganese oxides

molybdenum oxide

zinc oxide

titanium oxide

nickel oxide

cobalt oxide

cadmium oxide

beryllium oxide

vanadium pentoxide

chrome (III) compounds

chrome (IV) compounds