OCULAR HAZARDS OF INDUSTRIAL SPOT-WELDING

Any welding process is perceived to be a radiation hazard to the eye. Site visits were made to an automotive assembly plant to assess the le vels of optical radiation and other hazards on the production line. Me asurements were taken with a scanning spectroradiometer and optical po wer and energy meters at operating working distances at spot welding s tations where nonrobotic procedures were performed. Ultraviolet (UV) i rradiance levels produced while spot welding with electrodes operating at 10 to 15 kA and 10 to 20 V were several orders of magnitude below recommended safety limits for industrial exposure. Flashes were rich i n visible light and infrared (IR) radiation, but not at hazardous leve ls. The principal hazards in manual spot welding with high-current ele ctrodes are high-speed droplets of molten metal produced by the proces s. These are easily defended against by wraparound polycarbonate eye s hields.