If you’re welding on the job in a position that requires wearing a hard hat, why don’t you check out the new Sperian helmet.  Called the “Galaxy”, it’s a “passive flip front, high impact approved welding helmet… with a hard hat adaptor”.  That means no more switching back and forth between welding helmet and hard hat while you’re on the job.

Sperian’s Galaxy high impact welding helmet now with hard hat adaptor

10 July 2009

SPERIAN has launched the Galaxy high impact welding helmet with a hard hat adaptor.

According to Sperian, its Galaxy high impact welding helmet is currently the only passive flip front, high impact approved welding helmet on the market. It is tested to Australian Standards, and approved by SAI Global.

The Galaxy welding helmet is now fitted with a hard hat adaptor to suit PA620V and MSA V-Guard Elite hard hats.

Also available as a spare part, users can quickly convert their standard Galaxy high impact welding helmets to be used with a hard hat.

This provides protection for the head without needing to switch helmets and hardhats. The Galaxy high impact welding helmet with hard hat adaptor can be used at construction sites.

Welders using the Galaxy high impact welding helmet with hard hat adaptor can change the distance from the Auto Darkening Filter (ADF) to the eye, and the angle of the welding helmet to the hard hat to suit to their personal needs and working environment.

New from Miller:

Safeguard your senses with the new Powered Air Purifying Respirator, or PAPR.  Don’t be fooled by the acronym though; this product does much more than a mere piece of PAP[E]R ever could.

Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR)

Your solution to a cleaner breathing zone. The lightweight design, innovative shoulder straps and dual air speeds provide protection and maximum comfort.

Lightweight blower design (3.25 lb) provides all day comfort and reduces fatigue. Over 1 lb lighter than the leading brand!

Comfortable shoulder straps reduce fatigue over long shifts and distribute weight to provide a comfortable and secure fit for a wide variety of users.

Dual air speeds allow users to adjust the volume of air to maximize comfort in varied work conditions.

(more…)

This summer I spent a month in Toulouse in the south of France which has planted in me a deep-seated interest in the French culture and language.  So, as I was browsing the lovely YouTube, I put in a search for “soudage” – “welding” in French, and this popped up.

Dr. Weld?  Seriously?

Evidently this persona of the internet likes to sing about current events, with a welding helmet on, in what appears to be his own welding shop.

This particular video is about his feelings on telemarketing, but there are many more…

Lincoln Electric Launches Welding Fume Awareness Campaign

“Are You Ready?” campaign helps companies get ready for hexavalent chromium and other OSHA regulations

Cleveland – The Lincoln Electric Company has launched its “Are You Ready?” awareness campaign, designed to educate employers, as well as the general welding community, about effective fume control practices. The campaign is also designed to help fabricators understand both recent and upcoming Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations, including the hexavalent chromium standards going into effect on May 31, 2010.

The campaign promotes welding fume control and safety awareness and offers access to a comprehensive one-stop shop of reference materials, interactive tools and product solutions for weld fume control. This Lincoln Electric initiative is intended to educate the welding community on current and pending OSHA regulations and the proper operating practices to follow, particularly in reference to occupational exposure to welding fume containing hexavalent chromium and manganese.

CONTINUE READING ONLINE ->

GO HERE FOR AN INTERACTIVE PRESS KIT ->

The OSHA has just released a new hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) standard and Welding Magazine has kindly decided to help you find out how best to comply with the new regulations.

HexChrome and You

by CHRISTOPHER J. COLE, MS, CIH, CSP Welding Health and Safety Coordinator, The Lincoln Electric Com | Apr 1, 2009 12:00 PM

Learn what you need to know, and to do, to make your welding operation compliant with the new hexavalent chromium standard

Employers are under pressure to comply with the new hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) standard as it applies to the welding industry. Christopher J. Cole, MS, CIH, CSP and the Welding Health and Safety Coordinator at The Lincoln Electric Company, notes that the key to determining the level of effort needed to comply with the new standard is to understand how OSHA has intentionally structured the standard.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Does the new standard apply to my welding operations? Are you welding on stainless or alloy steel, or hard-facing alloys, that contain chromium? Is there any surface coating or plating that contains chromium? Do the consumables you are using contain chromium? If the answer is yes to any of these questions then the standard applies to you.

CONTINUE READING ONLINE ->

A welding helmet is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you’ll need as a welder, protecting your eyes… There are tons of options out there for welding helmets, and a big part of your decision will come down to personal choice. Some folks will want to go with something fun, like the Hollywood Hog Welding Helmet (pictured right).

OR, you may choose something like the Jackson Halo X with the NexGen auto darkening lens and hot flame design (pictured left)

You have to keep safety in mind foremost, but also fit and comfort, especially if you’re going to be wearing it all day long.

I found some great tips on buying a welding helmet I thought I’d pass along to you:

Tips for Choosing the Right Auto-Darkening Helmet

By Greg Coleman, Product Manager with The Lincoln Electric Company

Perhaps a welder’s most personalized accessory is his or her helmet.

There are a number of factors to consider when selecting a helmet that is safe, comfortable and functional.
…..

• Does the helmet meet current safety standards (ANSI Z87.1) to address light leakage as well as flame and impact resistance?
• Does the helmet include power circuits for extended dark storage so it always starts right out of the box?

Is the cartridge rated to darken at the low end amperages you will use?

CONTINUE READING AT WELDING MAGAZINE ONLINE–>

–and–

Welding Helmets – What you need to know before you buy

By Caleb Krisher, Product Manager for Hobart Welding Products

On the job or in the garage, every welder needs protection to prevent eye damage.

As a general rule, spending more on a welding helmet will increase comfort, improve your welding ability, result in higher quality welds and ensure your safety.

Unfortunately, selecting a helmet can be confusing if you’re not familiar with the latest auto-darkening lens technology and national safety standards.

This article will help you sort through the clutter and point out the most important things to consider before investing in this important piece of safety gear, while showcasing some of the industry’s top trends and designs.

CONTINUE READING ONLINE AT WELDING MAGAZINE–>

And, when you’re ready to buy , check out the selection of welding helmets at Arc-Zone.com, from stylish fun graphics to classic black welding helmets that you can personalize with your own collection of decals.

Arc-Zone.com is adding safety apparel to its ecommerce store. Online, you’ll now find a full line of TIG Welding gloves, including the Firefly TIG Glove which is part of Revco’s AngelFire Gear® Designed Exclusively for Woman.

And speaking of women…   Arc-Zone has also added a Category for Women’s Welding Wear.

My friend Scott always says, “A clean job site is a safe job site.” Thankfully he’s never seen my desk. Of course my desk is covered with papers, not with heavy equipment or sharp objects so safety isn’t much of an issue. I also don’t do much welding at my desk.

Thinking about safety isn’t usually the most fun part of a welding project, but it is essential. Jim just wrote a great post over at JoeWelder. com talking about safety when it comes to grinding tungsten electrodes. And another about safety, “What’s Your Health Worth?” Check ‘em out.

And lately there’s been a lot of buzz online (and off) about the “new” OSHA regulations regarding hexavalent chromium (present in welding fumes).

If reading government regulations is too overwhelming, Practical Welding Today wrote a pretty good article about how these regulations specifically affect your welding operation and what changes you need to make to be in compliance. You can read the full article online, “OSHA’s new hexavalent chromium standard: what it means to you and your employees.”

And you can download the American Welding Society’s fact sheet on Hexavalent Chromium (a PDF document)

If that’s not enough information for you, check out the picture on the left Jackson Safety — they’ve got a space age looking welding helmet / air purifying rig.