Protective clothing for a welder’s body should, minimally, resist fire and be durable enough to withstand high heat, sparks, and molten spatter. It should also protect the welder’s skin from UV/IR burns. The type of PPE used and required varies from process to process.

When choosing clothing, check the labeling to ensure each article is made of natural fibers like wool, leather, cotton, or bamboo. Synthetic fibers such as rayon and polyester are made with plastics, and these put the wearer at higher risk of injury due to their tendency to melt rather than smolder, which can lead to more serious burns to the skin.

Good clothing practices can ensure molten spatter or sparks don’t get caught in or on clothing and create a greater risk for burns. Pants and sleeves should never be rolled up or cuffed. Flammable objects, such as lighters, should be removed from welders’ pockets, and pant legs should be worn over the top of boots.

Leathers

Welding leathers offer the best skin protection against flash and spatter burns. They come in different styles and fits. Usually designed to be worn as a jacket over additional natural fiber clothing, they can also be cape sleeves—with a snap or tie-on bib covering the front of the body to the upper thigh or waist—or a full apron.

Coveralls

Coveralls are one-piece pants and suit uniform that can be worn over your clothes. Not all coveralls are created equal. They are designed for a variety of activities such as general shop work, flagging and traffic control, and riding a motorcycle.

We have already learned that welding PPE needs to be made from natural fibers such as cotton, leather, or wool. Therefore, coveralls designed to protect from rain and moisture may not be appropriate for a welding job as they are more likely to be made from synthetic materials. For a welding jobsite, choose coveralls that can be zipped or buttoned up rather than those that use Velcro for closure. Ensure that they fit your body properly and aren’t excessively baggy so there’s less risk of them getting caught in machinery.

Welding Cap

A welding cap is a head covering, typically made of cotton, worn under a welding helmet to protect the welder’s head and hair from the molten metal spatter. They come in different sizes and may have one or two soft bill flaps that can be positioned to cover a welder’s neck or ears against sparks and flying hot debris also. A welding cap (or some other natural fiber head covering, such as a bandana) is recommended for welders using methods that create a lot of sparks.

Attributions

1. Figure 3.12: Ready to work by Nicholas Malara, for WA Open ProfTech, © SBCTC, CC BY 4.0
2. Figure 3.13: A leather welding bib and sleeves by Stephanie Oostman, for WA Open ProfTech, © SBCTC, CC BY 4.0