Those approaching the world of welding should always ask themselves what clothing is appropriate for working safely without sacrificing comfort.
Having the right equipment is needed to protect the worker from sparks, heat and molten metal splashes and should provide good freedom of movement and suitable heat resistance.
One of the main rules to keep in mind is that the entire body must be covered; in fact, very often we come across welders with bare arms or exposed necks, when in fact even these parts are continually at risk of burns or worse, scalding.
In addition, it is essential to use clothing made from welding-specific yarns, that is, which have flame-retardant properties and thus make the device a heat protector.
There are various PPE to wear, such as eye and respiratory masks or head hoods; we will focus on clothing for body and limb protection.
The welder's clothing: what to wear for protection and comfort
THE APRON: Among Coval Safety's offerings for the welding world, the SPARK Split Leather Sleeve Welding Apron is never missing.
It has excellent resistance to welding risks and its purpose is to protect the worker from sparks, cuts and abrasions.
Because of its apron design with long sleeves attached, the chest and arms are totally covered, ensuring complete protection of the user.
THE GLOVES: 42VB gloves made of thermal split leather, fully lined with flame-retardant TNT, with a reinforcement on the palm, making them even safer and more durable.
They have an adjustable Velcro closure in the sleeve, which allows a better fit on the arm and more protection in case of sparks from welding activities.
Wearing gloves with a long sleeve is very important so as not to leave the wrist and forearm exposed, thus risking coming into contact with sparks or contact heat.
These PPE should also be carefully chosen according to the type of task being performed. In this regard we refer to our article on different types of welding, which you can find HERE.
THE JACKET: Another must-have garment for the welder is the heat-resistant jacket made of split leather with a flame-retardant cotton back and a central Velcro and snap-button closure.
The 12-cm high collar is designed and engineered to totally protect the worker, even in parts of the body often not considered to be risk zones, and is lined in fireproof cotton.
Read more about this product in our article by clicking HERE.
FOOTWEAR GAITERS: SPARK welding gaiters with fastening press studs are another essential PPE for people working in the welding industry:
✅They are designed to reduce the risk of entanglement
✅They grip the leg preventing sparks from entering the shoe
✅They are interchangeable
They are suitable for POSEIDON/B and APOLLO/B shoe models and offer not only excellent thermal insulation, but also high performance against mechanical hazards such as abrasion, cutting, puncture and tearing.
All garments in the SPARK welding line comply with EN ISO 11611:2015 CLASS 2 A1.
Tips for optimal choice of welding clothing
- Choose the right material: leather is usually used for welding, as it is heat-resistant. For seams, Kevlar thread, with its known flame-retardant properties, is recommended.
- Choose the right length: in the case of gloves, this allows protection not only for the hands, but also for wrists and forearms.
- Choose the right level of protection: protective gloves for welding are classified according to the level of protection they offer. It is important to choose the right level of protection for the type of welding you are doing.
- Check for regulatory compliance: for this we refer to our article on proper label reading.
- Choose the right size: wearing the correct size clothing ensures proper fit and maximum possible protection for the user, not to mention comfort.
All of this is very important when you consider that we spend a large part of our day in the work environment and, especially in certain types of jobs, we find ourselves in uncomfortable positions, even for a prolonged time.
If this article was helpful to you or if you would like to get advice on the most suitable welding clothing, please contact us.
