EyeCareforWelders
2012-06-10

Weld Like a Pro

An ARC-ZONE.COM How-to Guide

GeneralMIG/GMAW

TIG/GTAW

Stick/SMAW

PlasmaGeneral/Multiprocess

Welding and Eye Injuries
The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) estimates that approximately 10,000 eye injuries
related to welding occur each year, and arc welding equipment was the single most common cause. One
quarter of all welding injuries are to the eyes, making them the single most common type of injury. Sadly,
the grand majority of those injuries are easily preventable by adhering to a carefully constructed safety
plan along with safety training. Most injuries occur by the lack or proper use of existing equipment orprocedures. Low risk perception, vanity, laziness, discomfort avoidance, and inattention to detail all playa part.
Welding eye injuries fall into three general groups:• Mechanical damage from flying particles from hot or molten metal, chipped slag, or grinding.
• Chemical burns or irritation.
• Radiation burns from UV (ultraviolet) radiation, infrared radiation (heat), and visible light.
UV, Heat, and Light Injury
In addition to normal industrial hazards, welding presents the safety challenge of radiant energy fromwelding itself. All of the common types of welding produce harmful ultraviolet, infrared, and visible lightradiation.
Acute Light Injury
UV light damage can occur very quickly. UV radiation is absorbed by the cornea and lens of the eye resulting in an often painful but seldom permanent injury. Common effects include eye swelling, tearing,and intense pain. Welders sometimes refer to these corneal flash burns as arc eye or arc flash. Most of
the time, the injury is temporary with 95 percent of the injured returning to work within a week and 50
percent within two days; however, some injuries are permanent. Especially with visible light and infrared
radiation, the victim’s retina or other eye structures can be permanently damaged resulting in loss ofvisual acuity, cataracts, and high light sensitivity. Treatment consists of initial pain relief with anesthetic
eye drops and later cool wet compresses and artificial tears to relieve the ongoing symptoms. Some cases
require isolation in a dark room and subsequent sunglass wear until symptoms improve.
Cumulative Light Injury
There doesn’t have to be immediate effects for a victim’s eyes to be injured. Corneal flash burns can also
slowly occur over time with prolonged mild exposure. One study showed corneal discoloration, scarring,or membrane degeneration in approximately half of all welders tested.

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Bystander Light Injury
Bystanders are frequently injured by corneal flash burns. Because they’re not staring directly into the lightsource, they incorrectly believe they are safe. Eye damage can occur up to 50 feet away from the lightsource and can take as little as one second of exposure. Damaging radiation can reflect off shiny surfaces,
concrete, or metal. This is why non-welders need to be part of a safety plan and proper work shielding andaccess control are critical.

Contact Lenses
There are persistent rumors in the welding industry about contact lenses fusing to welders’ eyes fromheat or light radiation. Another rumor is that contact lenses can make corneal flash burns worse than theymight have otherwise been. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and the NSC (National Safety Council) have thoroughly investigated these claims and have found them baseless. In fact, if
anything, contact lenses provide a tiny amount of additional protection.
However, the rumors themselves can contribute to an unsafe environment by encouraging workers not towear their lenses. To combat this, the safety plan and training should clearly state the truth about contact lenses. The plan should also include procedures specific to lens wearers, such as when to remove thelenses and the importance of inspecting them regularly. Everybody in the work environment should betrained how to remove the lenses in case of emergency. Keep a record for emergency personnel of which
workers wear contact lenses.

Safety Plan
There should be a standardized set of safety procedures on every job. Those procedures should be written
down, and everybody in the work environment should be trained on those procedures. That safety planshould consider:
Welding Environment• Inspect and plan the welding environment.
• Obtain a welding permit if required.
• Pay special attention to any fire or explosive hazards in the environment.
• Ensure that the work area has a functioning eyewash station or other running water source and thatworkers could find their way to it with their eyes closed in the event of an emergency, if other workers are not always present.
• Ensure that there is appropriate ventilation to carry away dangerous dust and fumes.
Bystander and Welder Protection• Clear or cover any highly reflective surfaces.
• Inform bystanders that viewing a reflection can be as dangerous as looking at the UV source itself.
• Educate welders and others in the work area about the nature of corneal flash burns, including delayed symptoms and the importance of seeking medical attention.
• Educate welders and others in the work area on the safety procedures.
• Isolate the welding area with curtains if there is any possibility of bystander exposure.
• Ensure that others in the area also have eye protection, especially when chipping or grinding. If there
Arc-Zone.com, Inc. • 2091 Las Palmas Drive, Ste. F • Carlsbad, CA 92011-1551

Tel. 1.760.931.1500/1.800.944.2243 • Fax. 1.760.931.1504 Email: info@arc-zone.com
Copyright©2012, Arc-Zone.com®, Inc.

is any possibility of their seeing past a light curtain, ensure that they wear glasses that protect fromlight exposure. Remember, some types of welding can damage eyes up to 50 feet away.
Welder-Specific Protection• Always wear ANSI Z87.1 compliant safety glasses with side shields or, better still, full coverage goggles.
• Wear safety glasses or goggles under welding helmets.
• Clear or note any tripping hazards. Welding helmets and safety goggles can hamper welders’ ability
to navigate obstacles.
• Inspect eye safety equipment and keep it in good shape.
• In addition to head and eye gear, wear clothing and gloves that protect against UV radiation and flying materials.
• Wear safety glasses or goggles under welding helmets. Constantly removing and replacing eye protection greatly increases the chance of not having it in place when needed.
• Always read and follow the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.
Emergency Response• Establish procedures for specific injury types and special circumstances, including procedures for
those wearing contact lenses.
• Train all persons in the work environment on emergency procedures.

Responding to Eye Injury
All eye injuries are serious. Seek medical attention if there’s any doubt whatsoever about the severity of
the injury. The severity of visible light, UV, and IR radiation injuries are especially tricky to determine immediately after the incident. Always err on the side of seeking medical attention—if the injured eye hurts,
see a doctor or go to an emergency room. If you do seek medical attention, following up on the initial
appointment is critical. Some eye injuries are not evident for months or years after the initial incident.
Vision-threatening late effects include retinal detachment, glaucoma (high eye pressure), and cataract(clouded front of the eye).

When to Seek Medical Care
Seek immediate medical care if:• Any caustic chemical got into the eye.
• The eye is painful or red.
• The victim is experiencing headache or nausea.
• There are any vision changes such as blurriness or double vision.
• There is uncontrollable bleeding around or from the eye.
• There is a visible scratch, cut, or penetration of the eyeball.
In all cases:• Do not press or rub the injured eye.
• Do not attempt to remove embedded foreign objects. Get medical attention immediately.
Arc-Zone.com, Inc. • 2091 Las Palmas Drive, Ste. F • Carlsbad, CA 92011-1551

Tel. 1.760.931.1500/1.800.944.2243 • Fax. 1.760.931.1504 Email: info@arc-zone.com
Copyright©2012, Arc-Zone.com®, Inc.

•
•
•
•
•

Do not use fingers, cotton swabs, tweezers, or anything else on the eye itself. You may use cottonswabs on the eyelid only.
Do not remove contact lenses unless one of these situations apply:
Chemicals are in the eye and flushing failed to remove the contacts.
Prompt medical attention is not available.
Rapid swelling occurs.

Acute Light Injury
UV light damage can occur very quickly, causing eye swelling, tearing, and intense pain. If swelling or painis present, seek medical attention.

Small Objects in the Eye
Normally the eye clears itself of small foreign objects through tearing and blinking. If not, take the following steps:
Immediate Response
If the eye doesn’t rid itself of the object:
1. Do not to rub the eye.
2. Wash your hands before examining the eye.
3. Examine the eye in a well-lighted area or with a flashlight.
4. To locate the foreign object, have the person look up and down and then side to side.
5. If you still can't see the object, gently pull down on the lower eyelid to view between it and the eyeball. To view between the upper lid and the eyeball, put a cotton swab on the outside of the upper lid
and gently fold the lid over the swab.
6. If the object is on an eyelid, gently flush it out with water.
7. Failing that, touch a second cotton swab tip to the object to remove it. Do not touch the eye with theswab.
8. If the object is on the eye (not embedded in), gently rinse the eye with water. Do not touch the eyewith the swab.
9. If the object is embedded in the eye, seek medical aid.
Minor discomforts, such as scratchiness, may continue a day or two after removing tiny objects. If theperson continues to have discomfort or blurred vision, seek medical attention.

Blunt Trauma
A blunt hit to the eye can be a very serious injury. A strike can damage parts of the entire eye, even theretina and optic nerve at the very back. Blunt trauma can also break the bones around the eye and caneven cut the tissue of the eye in certain circumstances. The most common injuries are discussed below.
Other injuries are possible but usually only happen with severe impact in concert with other injuries, andare quite obvious to onlookers.
Arc-Zone.com, Inc. • 2091 Las Palmas Drive, Ste. F • Carlsbad, CA 92011-1551

Tel. 1.760.931.1500/1.800.944.2243 • Fax. 1.760.931.1504 Email: info@arc-zone.com
Copyright©2012, Arc-Zone.com®, Inc.

Immediate Response
In all cases of blunt trauma:
1. Reassure the victim. Serious eye injuries are very psychologically traumatic.
2. If there is any visible injury to the eyeball, seek immediate medical attention.
3. Very gently apply a cold compress to slow swelling and bleeding.
4. Unlike some other areas of the body, do not apply pressure to control bleeding.
5. If blood is pooling in the eye, cover both eyes with a clean cloth or bandage.
Blunt trauma can range from a minor injury up to a very serious medical emergency. In order of severity,from least to most, common results include:
Black EyeThe most common result of blunt trauma is a bruise in the tissue around the eye, commonly known as a
black eye. The swelling and discoloration go away on their own after a few days or weeks. During the firstday or two, delicately applied ice packs may reduce the swelling and pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, may be helpful in reducing pain and swelling. After a couple of days,
warm compresses can help to remove the discoloration. Black eyes themselves are not serious, but they
can often accompany or even mask serious injuries.
Blood Patches
Subconjunctival hemorrhage is a collection of blood in the white tissue of the eye. Sometimes the entire
white of the eye can become red with blood. As with most black eyes, these hemorrhages usually look
much worse then they actually are. The red will go away on its own, sometimes becoming slightly green
or yellow first. The entire process usually takes one to two weeks.
Blood Inside the Front of the Eye
A hyphema is bleeding into the front chamber of the eye. Bleeding may continue for several days after
the injury. Hyphema is a very serious condition that may result in permanent vision loss by blood staining the cornea or increased eye pressure damaging other parts of the eye. Hyphema can be difficult forothers to see with a naked eye. The victim may only experience blurred vision and pain when exposed tobright light. Hyphema is one of the reasons it’s usually best to seek medical advice on all but the mostminor eye injuries.
Retinal Detachment
The retina is the light sensitive part of the eye. It is a layer on the inside of the rear of the eyeball. Trauma
can cause the retina to detach from the interior surface of the eye. A detached retina is a very serious injury requiring prompt treatment, often surgery. Delayed treatment can result in further injury. Detachedretinas are not obvious to the naked eye of others. The victim may see irregular dark floaters in their eyes
or light flashes. He or she may have blurry vision and lose peripheral vision.

Arc-Zone.com, Inc. • 2091 Las Palmas Drive, Ste. F • Carlsbad, CA 92011-1551

Tel. 1.760.931.1500/1.800.944.2243 • Fax. 1.760.931.1504 Email: info@arc-zone.com
Copyright©2012, Arc-Zone.com®, Inc.

Eyelid Cuts
Eyelid cuts are serious injuries, but they are not as serious as injury to the eye itself. If a victim’s eyelid is
cut:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Reassure the victim. Serious eye injuries are very psychologically traumatic.
Wash your hands.
Carefully rinse the eye with cold water.
If the eyelid is bleeding apply gentle pressure with a clean dry cloth until the bleeding subsides
If available, cover the eye with a thick layer of an antibacterial ointment such as Neosporin or Bacitracin.
6. Cover the eye with gauze or other clean patch.
7. Gently apply a cold compress to relieve pain and swelling.
8. Seek immediate medical attention.

Puncture or Embedded Object
Eye punctures are extremely serious. If the victim’s eye is cut or punctured:
1. Reassure the victim. Serious eye injuries are very psychologically traumatic.
2. Do not wash out the eye.
3. Do not push on the eye or attempt to remove anything protruding from the eyeball.
4. Wash your hands.
5. Bandage both eyes to protect the injured eye and to reduce eye movement. If there’s a large protruding object, place a paper cup or something similar over the eye and tape it in place.
6. Seek immediate medical attention.

Chemical Burns and Irritation
A caustic chemical in the eyes is a very serious injury. If a victim gets chemicals in his or her eyes:
1. Reassure the victim. Serious eye injuries are very psychologically traumatic.
2. Flush the eye with cool water immediately: Turn the victim’s head to the side so the injured eye istowards the floor. While holding the eye open, run water into the eye for 15 minutes straight. If thechemical is in both eyes or on other parts of the body, have the victim take a shower if possible. If
running water is not available, in a pinch you can flush the victim’s eye with soda pop or other relatively neutral liquid.
3. If the victim is wearing contact lenses and the flushing doesn’t remove the lenses, gently remove thelenses after you finish flushing the eye or eyes.
4. Continue to flush the eye with water while seeking medical attention.
5. In all cases, seek medical attention if pain continues or the worker’s vision is blurry or obscured.

Arc-Zone.com, Inc. • 2091 Las Palmas Drive, Ste. F • Carlsbad, CA 92011-1551

Tel. 1.760.931.1500/1.800.944.2243 • Fax. 1.760.931.1504 Email: info@arc-zone.com
Copyright©2012, Arc-Zone.com®, Inc.

About ARC-ZONE.com
Jim Watson
Jim is CEO and founder of Arc-Zone.com. He is a master fabricator with years of hands-on experiencein his own shop and also as a winning motorcycle racer, car builder, and chief mechanic for a top motorsports team. He also has extensive experience in manufacturing, technical sales, and product development. Before launching Arc-Zone.com, he held leadership positions in some of the most respected companies in the welding industry.
Arc-Zone.com
Under Jim’s direction, Arc-Zone.com has led the industry in product innovation and online sales and service, becoming the world’s leading supplier of high-quality, high-performance welding and metal working
tools and accessories.
Contact Us
Contact us by phone, email, fax, or even- old-fashioned regular mail:
Arc-Zone.com, Inc.
2091 Las Palmas Drive Suite F
Carlsbad, CA 92011
800.944.2243 (Toll Free US) 1.760.931.1500 (Worldwide)
info@arc-zone.com

Copyright © 2012 by Arc-Zone, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
Under copyright laws, this documentation may not be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form, in whole or part, without the prior written consent of Arc-Zone, Inc. Arc-Zone Inc.
provides this documentation without warranty of any kind, either implicit or expressed, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. Arc-Zone, Inc. reserves the right to review this documentation and to makechanges in content from time to time without obligation to provide notification of such revisions or changes.
Arc-Zone.com, Inc. • 2091 Las Palmas Drive, Ste. F • Carlsbad, CA 92011-1551

Tel. 1.760.931.1500/1.800.944.2243 • Fax. 1.760.931.1504 Email: info@arc-zone.com
Copyright©2012, Arc-Zone.com®, Inc.