How to Choose Safety Goggles When Welding

Choosing the right pair of safety goggles for your welding needs ensures maximum comfort and eye protection from hazards in the workspace.

Eye Damage That May Result from Welding Work

• Ultraviolet rays can cause electro-optical ophthalmia and cataracts;

• Strong visible light can cause temporary blindness, retinal burns, and photophobia;

• Infrared rays can cause retinal and corneal burns and cataracts;

• Metal splashes can cause eye contusions, puncture injuries, etc.;

• Molten metal hot balls can cause eye burns;

• Other eye damage, etc.

How to Correctly Choose Welding Eye Protection Equipment?

• Welding eye protection equipment is a special labor protection equipment and must obtain relevant certification;

• Select appropriate welding eye protection equipment based on the amount of welding work, welding quality control requirements and operating environment conditions;

• The protective goggles worn must not only completely prevent the transmission of ultraviolet rays, but also prevent the transmission of infrared rays;

• Adjust to an appropriate state according to personal characteristics. The mask must be comfortable to wear. Only comfortable mask welders are willing to wear it for a long time. Only when worn throughout the entire working time can it provide sufficient protection. In addition, the operation and maintenance of the welding mask must be simple, so as to minimize the incorrect operation of welders.

Selection of Goggle Filter Shading Number

Selection Guide for Goggle Shading Numbers
Welding Methods	Welding Rod Size(mm)	Arc Current(A)	Minimum Shading Number	Recommended Shade Number
Manual Arc Welding	＜2.5 2.5～4 4～6.4 ＞6.4	＜60 60～160 160～250 250～550	7 8 10 11	- 10 12 14
Gas Shielded Arc Welding and Flux-Cored Wire Arc Welding	-	＜60 60～160 160～250 250～550	7 10 10 10	- 11 12 14
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding	-	＜50 50～100 150～500	8 8 10	10 12 14
Air Carbon Arc Cutting	-	＜500 500～1000	10 11	12 14
Plasma Arc Welding	-	＜20 20～100 100～400 400～800	6 8 10 11	6～8 10 12 14
Plasma Arc Cutting	-	＜300 300～400 400～800	8 9 10	9 12 14
Torch Brazing	-	-	-	3 or 4
Explosive Torch Soldering	-	-	-	2
Carbon Arc Welding	-	-	-	14
Gas Welding	Plate thickness, mm ＜3 3～13 ＞13		-	4 or 5 5 or 6 6 or 8
Gas Cutting	Plate thickness, mm ＜25 25～150 ＞150		-	3 or 4 4 or 5 5 or 6

Based on the above recommended shading values, welders should consider their own feelings to appropriately increase or decrease the shading number. What needs attention is that the visible light transmittance of filters with too high shading number is relatively low. Welders need to get closer to the welding torch or arc to clearly observe the welding part, which is extremely detrimental to the occupational health of welders. Firstly, welders are prone to fatigue; secondly, welders may also inhale more harmful welding smoke and harmful gases, and are easily burned by splashing droplets; thirdly, welders will be closer to the welding torch or arc, and the amount of ultraviolet radiation and infrared radiation they receive will be greater. A filter with a too small shading number will cause a high transmittance of visible light, making the welder’s eyes easily fatigued, which may affect the quality of welding. Long-term use of filters with too high or too low shading numbers may cause a decrease in the welder’s vision.