Which item provides direct eye protection from UV and IR radiation in welding operations?

• A. Eyeglasses
• B. Welding helmets/goggles
• C. Protective clothing
• D. Sunscreen creams/lotions

Answer: (B)

When welding, the arc blasts intense UV and infrared radiation that can injure the eyes quickly, so protection must sit between the eye and the arc and filter out those wavelengths. Welding helmets or goggles are designed with shade filters that absorb most UV and IR while still letting you see the weld, and many helmets can auto-darken to keep your eyes shielded as the arc starts and stops. Eyeglasses alone don’t provide enough shielding or a seal against radiant energy, and they’re not designed to filter the dangerous wavelengths. Protective clothing protects skin, not the eyes, and sunscreen won’t protect the eyes at all. So the item that gives direct eye protection from UV and IR radiation in welding is welding helmets or goggles.