Construction sites are dangerous places with many different hazards to avoid. Some are simple to avoid, like holes in the ground or piles of debris. Others can cause injury and physical damage from a distance, such as welding arcs.
Welding arcs emit very bright light and can be eye-catching. However, to avoid eye injury, you shouldn’t look at it without the proper safety equipment unless you are a good distance away. This distance depends on the exposure time, weather conditions, and angle you are looking at the welding arc.
If you are curious about the safe distance to look at a welding arc, read on. We discuss the distance you should maintain from a welding arc, the injuries you could suffer from exposure, as well as the treatments available for eye injury.
Distance Depends on Exposure
Welding is done by fusing different pieces of metal together to create one object. As you can imagine, it takes an immense amount of heat to melt the metal. Arc welding uses an electric arc that welds together electrodes and the base metal. The electric arc can create temperatures as high as 6500o F. This energy produces very bright UV light.
This bright light can cause physical damage to welders and onlookers if adequate safety measures are not taken. For everyone except the welder, it is important to keep a safe distance from the arc. There is no defined safe distance, as it can depend on weather conditions and exposure time.
After several trials, the US Army determined that the safe distance for 10 minutes of exposure is between 3 and 20 meters (10 to 65 feet). This distance will keep UV exposure below the daily recommended maximum.
Occupational Health and Safety report that workers as far as 50 feet away have experienced eye injury due to UV radiation reflecting off metal, concrete, and other shiny surfaces. If you are working near welding, protect yourself with shielding curtains.
There is no agreed-upon safe distance for arc welding. This makes it hard to determine what a safe distance is. Unless you are the welder, it seems like the safest distance is at least 50 feet away, although you shouldn’t look at the arc light without eye protection.
Wear the Right Safety Equipment
If you are near a welding site and see that bright light, the best move you can make is to move away from the welder. According to highspeedtraining.co.uk, anyone closer than 10 meters (32 feet) should be wearing safety equipment to protect against the UV light and radiation produced by the arc welder.
Welders need to wear eye and head protection. The industry standard is goggles under a welding helmet. However, as Occupational Health and Safety report, many welders forgo goggles for many reasons, including discomfort and low perception of risk. This leaves the welder open to eye damage from radiation, dust, and impact.
Arc welding can also cause damage to the skin so it is important to be fully covered to prevent injury. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says that the skin damage caused by UV radiation might not be visible but could lead to skin cancer. Simply covering the skin before welding can greatly reduce the risk of skin damage.
You Can Injure Your Eyes if You Are Too Close
The most common injury from arc welding is arc eye. Also known as welder’s flash, arc eye occurs when the cornea becomes inflamed after exposure to UV radiation. Non-welders may have experienced this condition from looking at the sun, being in a sunbed, or looking at the reflection of the sun off of the water.
Arc-eye symptoms develop over time so you might not realize right away that your eyes are injured. Arc eye symptoms include:
- Pressure or pain in the eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Unusually watery eyes
- Eye redness
- A gritty feeling in the eye
The amount of damage you may experience depends on the distance you are from the welding as well as the duration of exposure. If you are very close to the arc light and looking directly at it for a long time, you have a greater chance of experiencing arc eye than someone 50 feet away catching a glimpse of the light out of the corner of their eye.
Arc eye is usually only a temporary condition. However, long-term exposure to UV radiation can lead to cataracts and vision loss. The potential for permanent vision loss is a good reason to keep your distance from arc welding and to wear appropriate safety equipment if you are the welder.
Treatment for Eye Injuries
After experiencing arc eye, most workers are back on the job site within 7 days. Although the condition is usually temporary, if not treated properly an infection can develop. If you have been exposed to UV light and have damaged your eyes, here are some treatments to get back to work without too much of a delay.
Visit Your Eye Doctor
If you are worried about the damage you might have, have your eye doctor do an examination. They may use an orange dye that reveals the damage to your cornea. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe dilating drops to relax the eye muscles and allow them to heal. If you do get an infection, you may need antibiotics. Finally, an eye patch will also let your eye relax and heal.
At-Home Treatments Can Help
There are several things you can do at home to help repair the arc eye damage.
- Over-the-counter pain medication can help relieve the worst of your eye pain.
- Wear sunglasses to limit light exposure, especially if you are experiencing light sensitivity.
- Use eye drops to keep your eye moist and do not wear your contact lenses.
If you feel like your symptoms are not getting any better, go back to your doctor for another exam.
To prevent permanent damage to your vision, you should make sure to follow all medical recommendations before returning to work.
Keep Your Distance from Welding Arcs
We understand that for some people, staying away from welding arcs is impossible, as it is part of their job. However, for everyone else, you should try to stay at least 50 feet away from the welding arc and avoid looking directly at it. If you are closer and need to look, make sure to wear eye protection and a welding helmet for maximum eye protection.