Wearing welding mask during the welding process is a common thing everyone knows. It is a symbol of self-protection to avoid getting burns or injuries.
But more and more welders are welding without a mask. They think there is no need for precautions and can do it quickly and without delay.
But for such irresponsible actions, they will have to face difficulties. Since welding is a dangerous job, the risk of getting burns, for example, is very high.
In this blog, I will talk about harm welding without a mask and what cases you can weld without a mask.
Contents
Harmful consequences of welding without a mask
Eye problem
Suppose the welder’s eyes are not under protection from the exposure of welding light when welding torch; there is the risk of developing photokeratitis. It can lead to disability or even death if left untreated for an extended period.
Too much UV exposure can cause eye damage, similar to snow blindness.
Without eye protection, welders risk causing damage that can lead to permanent blindness. In the short term, they will experience terrible excruciating symptoms, such as a solid aversion to bright light, which will make any exposure painful and make it difficult for them to work outdoors in morning light or near bright sunny days when there are no shadows at all.
Hot temperature
The job of a welder is to heat metals to their melting temperatures. This hot metal can touch your face if you suddenly make a mistake. The boiling point of water is 212 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature causes discomfort to the human skin. The melting point of metals is much higher than these values. It’s hard to imagine what will happen to your face if molten metal splashes in your direction.
This can burn you badly and lead to both physical damage and mental trauma, so keep this in mind when working with hot metals.
Even though welding is risky and challenging, getting burned makes it even worse. Burns not only carry a significant danger of infection but also irreversibly damage skin cells, which can result in death or disfigurement if not treated right once and with care throughout the months-long healing process.
Someone may say that not only welders work with high temperatures. Other professions work at high temperatures without a mask. For example, bakers bake at a high temperature and must interact with hot equipment. But we should know that the temperatures involved with welding are typically much higher than those used for other crafts. However, professionals still need to protect themselves carefully so that these accidents don’t turn into worse situations like severe burns, which may result in lifelong scars.
Infrared radiation
Radiation from the welding torch is generated, which hurts the service life of the welder. UV exposure occurs imperceptibly and manifests itself over time.
Without protection, the intense UV rays from a welding torch can harm your skin and lead to skin cancer and arc eye. Constant exposure to infrared radiation can damage your eyes. However, UV exposure can also affect your skin and put you at risk for developing melanoma or basal cell carcinoma.
The most prevalent kind of cancer in the United States is skin cancer, which has the potential to spread to other organs.
Fortunately, there are numerous strategies to prevent contracting this severe illness. Sunburn occurs due to prolonged exposure to harsh sunlight outdoors, comparable to using a welding flame without a protective mask.
Make sure that this does not happen because if someone has had more than five cases of burnout in their entire life, the risk of getting melanoma increases dramatically.
Breathing problems
As you know, smoke is generated during the welding process during operation.
When you weld without a mask, you breathe it, which harms your lungs and the function of your respiratory system.
Depending on how long you have been working without a mask, you get an appropriate level of side effects.
If you inhale smoke for a short time, you may experience irritation in the throat or dizziness.
While if you inhale smoke for a long time, it can lead to lung or laryngeal cancer. It is possible that your nervous system and kidneys may also be damaged.
Of course, welding with a mask does not exclude the risk of breathing problems, but with the necessary precautions that I have in mind, wearing a mask and a welding respirator minimizes the risk of breathing problems. Think more about wearing a welding respirator that can save your life.
In what cases welding without a mask is acceptable
You can weld without a mask, but your health is under the risk that you are only responsible.
Some welders do not wear welding masks; instead, they use welding goggles.
Even if you do not wear a full welding mask, it is essential to provide safety protection for your eyes, so that bright lights do not harm you.
There are some reasons for wearing goggles instead of masks:
- A welder is a qualified specialist with work experience who knows what to do. This does not bother them at all because there is no possibility of getting burnt.
- Due to the less intense sparks and flashes of the welding torch compared to arc welding, it is possible to weld without wearing a mask.
- Some welders need to carry out short work, unlike other long temporary types of welding.
The most crucial thing to keep in mind is their effect on welders, in order to prevent any accidents that can prevent them from working. As a result, accidents and potential health problems are avoided.
Conclusion
Why is it essential to protect your eyes? All welders must-have safety gear to prevent irreparable damage from occurring while welding. It would help if you learned about these things early on to have a promising career in this field without getting any severe injury or snow blindness in your later years.
The risk of significant harm is high in the dangerous field of welding. Make sure you protect yourself by following all regulations so that you will not get any damage in a dangerous situation.
Once, the great Benjamin Franklin famously stated the importance of following precautions. He said that “an ounce of prevention is worth far more than any other craft”. This means it is easier to avoid the factors leading to the disease than to seek treatment for it. I agree with this statement.
There is always a risk when welders heat metal with any equipment: arc welding or welding torch. They may receive individual and cumulative damage, such as shock, injury, and severe burns, with the worst consequences. We cannot expect what will happen. So be careful every time.
Wear a welding helmet to protect yourself so that you don’t get a serious injury that would end your job. We are people who understand the worth of small things when we lose something valuable. Don’t be a person who will regret everything later.
Related questions
What happens if you weld without a mask?
There is a severe risk of getting an injury. Wearing a welding mask prevents eye problems, UV radiation, and else. If you weld without a mask, you get unnoticeable harm from radiation, minor burns, and arc eye.
But instead of welding masks, you can wear helmet covers that cover more of the surface of the head than masks. Alternatively, you can choose goggles that only defend your face.
What happens if you weld with no helmet?
If you don’t wear a welding helmet when welding or heating metals, the main side effects of radiation and hot temperature harm your body, so you can not work.
If you don’t want to wear a helmet, you can put on a full welding mask that can replace the helmet.
What happens if you accidentally look at a welding arc?
Arc welding emits much more energy than the burner’s energy; because of this, we notice such a bright welding light during arc welding.
Directly staring at a welding light at close range can result in eye damage that can range in severity from temporary effects like vertigo, pain, and eye redness to more serious ones like retinal damage and permanent blindness if repeated over time. Due to the heat, you can also get minor burns on your skin.
If you get symptoms, you need medical help or get treated.
Do you need a mask to weld?
Welding goggles and welding masks protect the eyes and face. They protect against UV radiation and UV burns, so the welder will not get a bad flash injury or, even worse, permanent blindness. But they don’t protect the welder’s head. It would be nice to wear a full welding helmet. This is also another security measure.
Read Also About Controlling Hazardous Fume and Gases during Welding
Not so long ago, I needed to do one small welding job. I must say that I had never done this before, but it seemed very easy. Of course, I put on a mask and got to work. But, my God, how uncomfortable it was in this mask! I decided at the initial stage to attach the parts without a mask, and then put on a mask and weld it properly. But after a few hours of work, my eyes turned red and began to water heavily. Then I had an unreal pain and it was difficult for me to even open my eyes. I had to go to the hospital. For 2 days I could not open my eyes at all. And only on the third day I felt better.
So I want to advise everyone to work only in a mask and not be as stupid as me.