On the third day of industrial ergonomics, my favorite safety team gave to me ... welding safety tips, and a $25 Home Depot gift card!
Welcome back to DORN’s 12 Days of Industrial Ergonomics. For your chance to win the Home Depot gift card, remember to share this post on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or X and tag the DORN account. Share on multiple platforms and tag your safety colleagues for more chances to win! The winner from Day 2 of the 12 Days of Ergonomics is Kathleen Spanjer, who did an incredible job —check out her post!
Today, we’re diving into an important topic in many industrial settings: welding safety.
Welders often work long shifts and busy days, moving between multiple tasks across various locations within a worksite. Personal protective equipment is critical for welders, especially for protecting the eyes and face from bright light, hot metal, sparks, and chemical burns. The ubiquitous face guard, or welding helmet, is a signature look for welders no matter what they’re working on, but many welders (and their employers) may not be aware of a common problem associated with that piece of gear: neck and shoulder strain.
Since they work with both hands and often need to raise their mask between tasks, it’s very common for welders to lower the face guard by jerking their heads downward, causing the mask to fall into place. That’s a quick way to get ready to weld, but it also puts strain on your neck and shoulders when done repeatedly throughout the day. This can result in tension, inflammation, chronic pain, and headaches—symptoms that are also observed in people who suffer whiplash injuries. Fortunately, this can be easily avoided by simply using your hands to lower and raise the helmet.
Outside of avoiding neck injuries, welders should always take care to utilize PPE, including respirators if working on a job with a high exposure assessment for dangerous gases and fumes. Burns and electric shocks, particularly to the hands and arms, are also persistent risks associated with welding.
Watch Cheryl Roy’s Safety Minute video for a quick explanation of the importance of protecting your neck and shoulders while welding.
Thank you for joining us for the 12 Days of Industrial Safety! Remember to share this post on social media to be entered to win today’s prize: a $25 Home Depot gift card!
