Welding PPE Requirements

KNOW THE LAWS: Welding PPE Requirements

Here are the PPE requirements specific to welding under the OHS regulations in each jurisdiction:

A worker must not perform electric arc welding if it’s reasonably possible for another worker to be exposed to radiation from the arc unless the other worker is wearing suitable eye protection or is protected by a screen [Sec. 231].

1. Arc welding must not be carried out unless workers who may be exposed to radiation from the arc flash are protected by adequate screens, curtains or partitions or wear suitable eye protection [Sec. 12.122(1)].

2. A worker involved in welding or burning operations must wear:

a. flame resistant work clothing;

b. gauntlet gloves of leather or other suitable material and arm protection;

c. an apron of leather or other suitable material for heavy work;

d. eye and face protection against harmful radiation, particles of molten metal, and while chipping and grinding welds; and

e. substantial safety footwear made of leather or other suitable material [Sec. 12.123].

3. A respirator must be provided and worn if an effective means of natural, mechanical or local exhaust ventilation isn’t practicable:

a. during short duration welding, burning or similar operations; and

b. during emergency work [Sec. 12.124].

1. If there’s a risk of injury to a worker’s skin from sparks, molten metal or ionizing or non-ionizing radiation, an employer must provide PPE that:

a. meets the requirements of CAN/CSA-W117.2-01 (R2006), Safety in Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes; and

b. is appropriate for the risk;

or a safeguard that provides equivalent protection [Sec. 6.8(1)].

2. An employer must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that a worker doesn’t perform electric arc welding if another worker may be exposed to radiation from the arc unless the other worker is using an appropriate eye protector or is protected from the radiation by an appropriate barrier [Sec. 17.5].

An employer must ensure that an employee engaged in a welding, cutting, burning or soldering operation wears, and an employee engaged in such an operation must wear, appropriate protective equipment except that:

a. the protective gloves required by Sec. 42(a) must be leather gauntlet type gloves with arm protection; and

b. the adequate body covering required by Sec. 42(c) must be flame retardant work clothing and an apron of leather or of other material offering equivalent protection [Sec. 276].

1. Arc welding must not be carried out unless a worker who may be exposed to radiation from the arc flash is protected by an adequate screen, curtain or partition or wears suitable eye protection [Sec. 452(1)].

2. Respiratory protective equipment must be provided and worn where an effective means of natural, mechanical or local exhaust ventilation isn’t practicable [Sec. 457].

1. An employer must take all reasonable steps to ensure that a worker doesn’t perform electric arc welding if another worker could be exposed to radiation from the arc, unless the other worker is using an approved industrial eye protector or is protected from the radiation by an approved screen [Sec. 97(2)].

2. A worker must not perform electric arc welding if another worker could be exposed to radiation from the arc, unless the other worker is using an approved industrial eye protector or is protected from the radiation by an approved screen [Sec. 97(3)].

1. An employer must take all reasonable steps to ensure that a worker doesn’t perform electric arc welding if another worker could be exposed to radiation from the arc, unless the other worker is using an approved industrial eye protector or is protected from the radiation by an approved screen [Sec. 97(2)].

2. A worker must not perform electric arc welding if another worker could be exposed to radiation from the arc, unless the other worker is using an approved industrial eye protector or is protected from the radiation by an approved screen [Sec. 97(3)].

1. The employer must ensure that all employees engaged in welding or cutting operations wear, and all employees must wear:

a. adequate fire retardant work clothing;

b. fire retardant gauntlet type gloves and arm protection;

c. an apron of fire retardant or other adequate material;

d. adequate eye and face protection against harmful radiation, or particles of molten metal, or while chipping and grinding welds; and

e. safety boots which meet the requirements of Sec. 45.15 [Sex. 37.9].

2. Approved respirator equipment must be worn if tests of air samples indicate it’s necessary [Sec. 37.10].

In areas where operations producing dangerous emanations of ultra-violet radiations such as arc welding and cutting and resistance welding are carried out, the following precautions must be taken:

a. protect the hands and forearms of workers exposed to appreciable doses with gloves or protective creams; and

b. protect eyes and face as required under Sec. 343 [Sec. 143].

1. An employer or contractor must take all reasonable steps to ensure that a worker doesn’t perform electric arc welding if another worker may be exposed to radiation from the arc, unless the other worker is using a suitable industrial eye protector or is protected from the radiation by a suitable screen [Sec. 93(3)].

2. A worker must not perform electric arc welding if another worker may be exposed to radiation from the arc, unless the other worker is using a suitable industrial eye protector or is protected from the radiation by a suitable screen [Sec. 93(4)].

1. The worker must ensure that fire resistant clothing appropriate to the risk is worn where there may be exposure to a flash fire, molten metal, welding and burning or similar hot work hazards [Sec. 1.15].

2. Arc welding must not be carried out unless workers who may be exposed to radiation from the arc flash wear suitable PPE, including eye protection, or are protected by adequate screens, curtains or partitions [Sec. 13.08(5)].

3. Respiratory protective equipment must be used only:

a. for short duration welding or burning operations if the use of effective local exhaust ventilation isn’t practicable, and

b. during emergency work, if the installation of ventilation equipment isn’t practicable [Sec. 13.11(6)].

4. The following protective clothing and equipment must be used when involved in welding, burning or similar operations:

a. flame resistant work clothing;

b. gauntlet gloves of leather or other suitable material and arm protection;

c. an apron of leather or other suitable material for heavy work;

d. eye and face protection against harmful radiation, particles of molten metal, and while chipping and grinding welds; and

e. substantial safety footwear made of leather or other suitable material [Sec. 13.12(4)].