A new OSHA fact sheet, Eye Protection against Radiant Energy during Welding and Cutting in Shipyard Employment,* is intended to help prevent worker eye injuries in the maritime industry. Electromagnetic energy given off by an arc or flame, commonly referred to as radiant energy or light radiation, can injure workers’ eyes. For protection from radiant energy, employers must ensure that workers use the necessary personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses, goggles, welding helmets or welding face shields. This equipment must have filter lenses with a shade number that provides the appropriate level of protection. A shade number indicates the intensity of light radiation that is allowed to pass through a filter lens to one’s eyes. The higher the shade number, the darker the filter and the less light radiation that will pass through the lens. Tables in the fact sheet below provide the proper shade numbers to be used under various conditions when performing welding operations including gas and metal arc welding and oxygen cutting.
Eye and Face Protection
Thousands of people are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented with the proper selection and use of eye and face protection. Eye injuries alone cost more than $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses, and worker compensation. OSHA requires employers to ensure the safety of all employees in the work environment. Eye and face protection must be provided whenever necessary to protect against chemical, environmental, radiological or mechanical irritants and hazards. Eye and face protection is addressed in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring, and the construction industry.
The following is a guide for the selection of the proper shade numbers. These recommendations may be varied to suit the individual’s needs.
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Welding operation | Shade No.
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Shielded metal-arc welding - 1/16-, 3/32-, 1/8-, |
5/32-inch electrodes ................................. | 10
Gas-shielded arc welding (nonferrous) - 1/16-, 3/32-, |
1/8-, 5/32-inch electrodes .......................... | 11
Gas-shielded arc welding (ferrous) - 1/16-, 3/32-, 1/8-, |
5/32-inch electrodes ................................. | 12
Shielded metal-arc welding: |
3/16-, 7/32-, 1/4-inch electrodes .................... | 12
5/16 -, 3/8-inch electrodes .......................... | 14
Atomic hydrogen welding ................................ | 10-14
Carbon arc welding ..................................... | 14
Soldering .............................................. | 2
Torch brazing .......................................... | 3 or 4
Light cutting, up to 1 inch ............................ | 3 or 4
Medium cutting, 1 inch to 6 inches ..................... | 4 or 5
Heavy cutting, 6 inches and over ....................... | 5 or 6
Gas welding (light) up to 1/8 inch..................... | 4 or 5
Gas welding (medium) 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch .............. | 5 or 6
Gas welding (heavy) 1/2 inch and over .................. | 6 or 8
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NOTE: In gas welding or oxygen cutting where the torch produces a high yellow light, it is desirable to use a filter or lens that absorbs the yellow or sodium line in the visible light of the operation.
We hope that this information will be useful to anyone in the industries that utilize welders and welders helpers. It is of the utmost importance that their eyes are protected from the hazards of their jobs.
Source: OSHA