UV Burns

[MrBlobby]

I was doing a welding job on Saturday using my normal helmet that I’ve used several times in the past. The following morning I quickly realised I had been burned and by Sunday evening my cheeks and side of nose were swelling up to such an extent I got myself down to A and E.
Anyhow, I’m gonna survive. The point is, what went wrong? The only thing I can think of was that during welding the arc was down very low in relation to the helmet window (down by my chin) and the UV had found its way under the lower edge of the mask and up onto my face. The mask in question is a budget (£35) model, but as I say I’ve used it with no ill effects in the past.
What do you guys think?

 

[Sparkey]

Ouch!
Did you wear a white shirt? the uv rays could've reflected on that...
What were you welding?

 

[mike os]

not nice.... & an unusual one

I usually get it at the top of my gauntlets when a sleeve has pulled

or when "just doing a quick weld" & not wearing long sleeves.... only about once year

 

[Hitch]

Ifd i get it, its normally around my neck, just outside of the mask.
I think you are probably right, its gone under the mask, not all of them look like they have much protection on the bottom edge, in the way of shaping.
Im a bit confused though, how did you see what you were doing if that was the case?

 

[MrBlobby]

I've just been out and set up the same welding position. No matter how much I lean over the job, the gap at the lower edge of the mask is very small.

I'm beginning to suspect the cheap helmet

 

[madkayaker]

what's the helmet made out off?

 

[Sparkey]

Sorry to repeat myself but what were you welding? not something nasty i suppose, galv or something with paint on it?
(and how about the white shirt?)

 

[MrBlobby]

I was wearing dark clothing and working on a motorcycle fuel tank so assume it was regular mild steel.

If it was a 'branded' helmet I'd be on to the manufacturers, but its unmarked.
I'm certainly not going to risk using it again.

 

[MrBlobby]

Just for the record, here is a pic of the helmet and my facial injuries. The swelling is going down day by day, but my face is still somewhat lopsided.

 

[R Kraft]

I remember someone told me that he had bifocals that he used while welding, and that he had made a leather apron for his welding helmet.
He would tip his head back to get focus and burn his chin and neck.
But you are burnt square in the face and the top of your nose, very strange.
It looks almost like the light came from behind you and reflected from the lens onto your face.
Robert
Robert

 

[Hitch]

Thats a strange one, id have expected the lower part of your face to be burned, and under your chin especially.
If you hold your mask upto daylight, is there any gaps around the lense?

Did the docs say it was a UV burn? It would be dry an flaky now id expect.

 

[mike os]

white walls?

 

[MrBlobby]

No, it was me that called it UV burn....what else could it be?

 

[Paul.]

It doesn't look like typical arc burn, more like some kind of allergic reaction, If it was a uv burn I would have thought that you would have arc eye as well, the mark looks more like something I once saw when a workmate got hydraulic oil on his gloves and goggles and transferred it to his face, especially with the mark over the bridge of the nose, yet not on the tip.

 

[MrBlobby]

Hmmmmm. Yes, the more I think about it, the more an allergy seems the most likely cause of the redness, especially as ther swelling has now spread above my left ear (well away from anywhere UV could have reached).
I only assumed in my ignorance it was caused by UV.

I'm off to my GP tomorrow for a further investigation

 

[gavuk]

Did you wear grinding goggles ?....does look like a reaction rather than uv ,,,

 

[MrBlobby]

I was wearing glasses at thr time.

Anyhow, been to the docs today and he has diven me antibiotics for the rash.

I still don't understand what caused the problem. I know now it wasn't UV, so my confidense in my helmet has returned. I'm pretty certain it was some form of metal vapour exposure.

What sort of mask do you guys recommend to wear underneath my welding helmet, in order to avoid this catastrophe happening again

 

[madkayaker]

have a look on ARCO for metal vapor masks P4 if memory works

 

[Normsthename]

Have you been near to any wood dust like MDF?
I know a guy who is allergic to wood dust and your rash looks just his when he gets a reaction

Andy

 

[dave18]

btw that looks like my PARAWELD mask but with a different selector knob and mines grey