OSHA has published a new fact sheet on eye protection during welding operations in the shipyard industry, but it really applies to any industry. Here is the OSHA news release and a link to the fact sheet (which has useful charts on lens shade for various types of welding):
New fact sheet provides information on protecting shipyard workers from eye injuries during welding and cutting operations
A new OSHA fact sheet, Eye Protection against Radiant Energy during Welding and Cutting in Shipyard Employment, is intended to help prevent worker eye injuries in the maritime industry. Electromagnetic energy given off by an arc or flame, commonly referred to as radiant energy or light radiation, can injure workers’ eyes. For protection from radiant energy, employers must ensure that workers use the necessary personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses, goggles, welding helmets or welding face shields. This equipment must have filter lenses with a shade number that provides the appropriate level of protection. A shade number indicates the intensity of light radiation that is allowed to pass through a filter lens to one’s eyes. The higher the shade number, the darker the filter and the less light radiation that will pass through the lens. Tables in the fact sheet provide the proper shade numbers to be used under various conditions when performing welding operations including gas and metal arc welding and oxygen cutting.