Document ID: OSHA-2010-0001-0078
Agency: osha
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2010-11-12T05:00Z

MARITIME INDUSTRY –   Eye Protection against Radiant Energy for
Welding and             Associated Operations in Shipyard Employment, 29
CFR 1915 

To prevent workers from injurious light radiation, each affected
employee must use eye equipment (e.g., safety glasses, goggles, helmets)
with filter lenses that have a shade number that provides appropriate
protection from injurious light radiation.  The Table below is a listing
of appropriate shade numbers for various operations.  If filter lenses
are used in goggles worn under a welding helmet, the shade number of the
lens in the helmet may be reduced so that the shade numbers of the two
lenses will equal the value as shown in the Table below. 

All auto-darkening helmets that comply with the current ANSI Z87.1
standard for helmets, whether battery- or solar-powered, protect the
operator from damaging UV and IR radiation.  This protection occurs when
the helmet is worn in the proper down position, whether the lens is
darkened or not.  However, the faster the helmet darkens, the most
likely it is to prevent discomfort from the high-intensity visible
light.

 Table - Filter Lenses for Protection against Radiant Energy

Operation

	

Electrode Size

in inches	

Arc Current

(Amperes)	Required      Minimum

Protective

Shade	Suggested ANSI/AWS

Shade No.*

Shielded Metal

Arc Welding

(SMAW)

	 Less than 3/32

 3/32 – 5/32

 5/32 – 1/4

 More than 1/4	 Less than 60

   60–160

 >160-250

 >250-550	       7

       8

      10

      11	    --

    10

    12

    14

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Cored Arc Welding

(FCAW)

 Less than 60

   60-160

 >160-250

 >250-500	       7

      10

      10

      10	    --

    11

    12

    14

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

(GTAW)

 Less than 50

   50-150

 >150-500	       8

       8

      10	    10

    12

    14

Air Carbon Arc Cutting

     (Light)

     (Heavy)

 Less than 500

  500-1000	

      10

      11	

    12

    14

Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)

 Less than 20

   20-100

 >100-400

 >400-800	       6

       8

      10

      11	   6-8

    10

    12

    14

Plasma Arc

Cutting (PAC)

 Less than 20

   20-40

  >40-60

  >60-80

  >80-300

 >300-400

 >400-800

	       4

       5

       6

       8

       8

       9

      10	     4

     5

     6

     8

     9

    12

    14

Torch Brazing

     --	

      --	

  3 or 4

Torch Soldering

     --	

      --	

     2

Carbon Arc Welding (CAW)

     --	

      --	

    14

 

Operation

	

Plate Thickness,

inches	

Plate thickness,

millimeters	

Suggested

Shade No.

	Suggested ANSI/AWS

Shade No.*

Oxyfuel Gas Welding

          Light

          Medium

          Heavy

	   

   Under 1/8

   1/8 to 1/2

   Over 1/2	

    Under 3

    3 to 13

    Over 13	

  4 or 5

  5 or 6

  6 or 8	

5

6

8

Oxygen Cutting

          Light

          Medium

          Heavy

	   

   Under 1

   1 to 6

   Over 6	

    Under 25

    25 to 150

    Over 150	

  3 or 4

  4 or 5

  5 or 6	

4

5

6

     These charts provide minimum protective lens shades for a variety
of commonly used welding and cutting processes.  Shade numbers are given
as a guide only and may be varied to suit individual needs.

      As a rule of thumb, start with a shade that is too dark to see the
weld zone.  Then go to a lighter shade which gives sufficient view of
the weld zone without going below the minimum.  In gas welding or oxygen
cutting where the torch produces a high yellow light, it is desirable to
use a filter lens that absorbs the yellow or sodium line in the visible
light of the operation (spectrum).

      *These guidelines have been incorporated from ANSI/AWS  F2.2:2001,
as these ANSI standards 	     are the most recent regarding eye
protection against radiant energy produced by welding       	  	    
operations.  All standards of the American Welding Society are voluntary
consensus standards  	     that have been developed in accordance with
the rules of the American National Standards 	  	     Institute.