Safe Distance

[Buzz1024]

Someone at work has asked me this question and I have no idea so though of you lot -

if someone is welding in their driveway/garden (DIY user) and some of the neighbours kids are watching - what is a safe distance for them to observe from so that there is no eye damage. Yeah - I would put up some sort of shield to block anyones view but in this case there are no barriers between welder & watcher.
Thanks

 

[fixerupper]

Years ago I worked on a show in Circus big top tent that had aerialists performing in it .
During the fit up the trapeze artists were rehersing going though their act ..and the fit up crew were welding up some parts of the seating stand ... any way the when the show opened the trapeze bit was cancelled cos' the catcher had arc eye he had been swinging too and fro high above the welding and no one had told him not to look at it .......jeff...

 

[Wozzaaah]

Your mate should not be welding where people can see him, he needs to make up some sort of barrier or not weld there.
The last thing he'd need would be for someone to sue him for eye damage.

 

[DanielW]

Someone at work has asked me this question and I have no idea so though of you lot -

if someone is welding in their driveway/garden (DIY user) and some of the neighbours kids are watching - what is a safe distance for them to observe from so that there is no eye damage. Yeah - I would put up some sort of shield to block anyones view but in this case there are no barriers between welder & watcher.
Thanks

If in doubt....do it when the neighbours kids are at school,common sense really.

 

[CRB]

I have the same problem, working on the drive.

I use the three big bins, and various boards and windbreakers, on top of the fact that the van itself is in the way.

 

[The Devils Reject]

I had to have a word with my neighbour about his little lad. My welding work is shielded from the road by the Landy and caravan and high fences either side. My neighbours boy is interested in the stuff I do and sits on his landing widow sill so he can watch what I'm up to. Great when it's just spanners and me teaching him new swearwords but not so good when I fire up the welder. He has the window open so he can get a better view.

The neighbour who is a bit of a donkeys bottom, thought I was trying to dictate where his son could sit in his own house until I pointed out the problems/severity of arc eye. Laddy now gets suitably hollered at when he graces the windowsill with his presence when Mr Mig comes out to play.

 

[Kent]

I should have a watcher on the lookout if I was welding were people can look. Indeed I am doing this at present Canal side re-building a barge on private land with the toe path on the opposite. Distance "if they can see they are too near IMO" thing is they tend to stare ( used to have loads of trouble doing welding repairs in factories, too much boring repetitive work still made a few peek over the barriers mind you)

 

[AndyStobbs]

I had to have a word with my neighbour about his little lad. My welding work is shielded from the road by the Landy and caravan and high fences either side. My neighbours boy is interested in the stuff I do and sits on his landing widow sill so he can watch what I'm up to. Great when it's just spanners and me teaching him new swearwords but not so good when I fire up the welder. He has the window open so he can get a better view.

The neighbour who is a bit of a donkeys bottom, thought I was trying to dictate where his son could sit in his own house until I pointed out the problems/severity of arc eye. Laddy now gets suitably hollered at when he graces the windowsill with his presence when Mr Mig comes out to play.

Buy him some burning goggles for christmas. Win win.

 

[fixerupper]

Off topic a bit but , how many of you put your hand in front of your eyes when you see welding on the telly ?... jeff...

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I seem to remember reading some H&S or similar literature that it's actually an offence to weld when the "public" can see the arc without ensuring some sort of shield is in place. It leaves the welder liable to all sort of action if seen even if nobody gets arc eye. This applies to DIY in own driveway, on own project, to industrial conditions with no difference between the two as same rules apply.

 

[T0rnado69]

i have the same issue, could really do with a screen to keep kids and passers by from seening the light.
i know you can get welding frames you put up etc
but i really could do with a roll up blind for quickness, iv got a hold of a 2mtr roller blind thats in brown.
i can hang from the door, though i dont think its dark enough to hide it.
i guess it needs to be made of the correct stuff that will shield the light.
i found these on the bay at a good price. but collection only.
i really only want the material, the frame aint any good to me.
too far to go to collect one though

 

[norlander]

I made screens up from 1mm wall 25x25mm sq tube which slotted on to my trestles, the screen material is a spark and grease resistant carpet type material used under BBQs or in front of open fires.
I welded lugs to the uprights and simply spring clamp the screen stuff in place.
Can't show you pics as I have converted my trestles into a pullup and dip station for my gym.
I'm on the lookout for scrap steel wheels now so I can use em as bases for the screens if I need em again.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

i have the same issue, could really do with a screen to keep kids and passers by from seening the light.
i know you can get welding frames you put up etc
but i really could do with a roll up blind for quickness, iv got a hold of a 2mtr roller blind thats in brown.
i can hang from the door, though i dont think its dark enough to hide it.
i guess it needs to be made of the correct stuff that will shield the light.
i found these on the bay at a good price. but collection only.
i really only want the material, the frame aint any good to me.
too far to go to collect one though

If a few people are interested in these then I could be tempted myself. Idea then could be you buy and I collect on your behalf at same time as collecting my own. They could then simply be stored in my lock-up until a later date when you could collect. If you just wanted the actual screen and not the stand then I could parcel up and you arrange courier to collect.
Think about it and let me know.

Paul H,
Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent

 

[normspanners]

We used to have a welder at one place that instead of shoutin EYES!!! when he was 'public' in the workshop he used to SHOUT "WATCH THE PRETTY BLUE LIGHT BOYS"

 

[BrokenBiker]

when I have to weld out the front I usually get kids that walk past stopping to watch. I was tacking up my new gate in situ to make sure clearances were kept, lifted the mask and there was a lad about 12 years old leaning on the wall about 3 foot away from the end of my torch. scared the sh*t out of me. gave him a bit of verbal and told him to sod off. his father came back to try and have a go about the way I spoke to him, until I explained that he had gone out of his way to get around the barriers i put up to shield people form the arc (few old fence panels and a bit of shed roof), and had climbed onto my wall in order to get a better look, and would probably have arc eye due to his stupidity.

the father didn't seem to eager to shout about how his son never does anything worng and is a good little boy after that.

moral of the story, kids will get at you what ever you do, if you have suitable defences and they still choose to get around them, its their own fault. if you do everything you reasonably can to stop people being able to see it, you can do no more

 

[T0rnado69]

If a few people are interested in these then I could be tempted myself.
If you just wanted the actual screen and not the stand then I could parcel up and you arrange courier to collect.
Think about it and let me know.

Paul H,
Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent

cheers paul, i guess there is no way of really knowing the postage cost until the screen it wrapped up and ready to go.

i just found machinemart do a replacement screen for £35 or £30 on vat free day.
and they aint too far from me.

i would only want the screen posted/courier to me.
though the metal from the frame could be used for something else etc.
its just too far to go for that, time i pay for fuel i could get one cheaper that was a lot closer.
but its pointless buying a new screen and frame when il only cut the frame up and just use the screen on a roller blind

cheers

 

[Cyberprog]

I had to have a word with my neighbour about his little lad. My welding work is shielded from the road by the Landy and caravan and high fences either side. My neighbours boy is interested in the stuff I do and sits on his landing widow sill so he can watch what I'm up to. Great when it's just spanners and me teaching him new swearwords but not so good when I fire up the welder. He has the window open so he can get a better view.

The neighbour who is a bit of a donkeys bottom, thought I was trying to dictate where his son could sit in his own house until I pointed out the problems/severity of arc eye. Laddy now gets suitably hollered at when he graces the windowsill with his presence when Mr Mig comes out to play.

I'd buy the lad a cheapo shield, one of the one's that you have to hold in place, myself

 

[the snooper]

I had to have a word with my neighbour about his little lad. My welding work is shielded from the road by the Landy and caravan and high fences either side. My neighbours boy is interested in the stuff I do and sits on his landing widow sill so he can watch what I'm up to. Great when it's just spanners and me teaching him new swearwords but not so good when I fire up the welder. He has the window open so he can get a better view.

The neighbour who is a bit of a donkeys bottom, thought I was trying to dictate where his son could sit in his own house until I pointed out the problems/severity of arc eye. Laddy now gets suitably hollered at when he graces the windowsill with his presence when Mr Mig comes out to play.

if he is behind glass he wont be affected

 

[The Devils Reject]

if he is behind glass he wont be affected

Trouble is, he opens the window so he can lean out and get a better view

 

[Cyberprog]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380642416912 - £6.72