As a welder, you know your helmet may be the single most important piece of safety equipment you use each day when doing your job. However, many welders who are new to the profession often assume that once they purchase their first helmet, they may never need another one. However, this is almost always not the case. In fact, it won’t be uncommon for you to get many new welding helmets over the course of your career. If you are wondering how you will know it’s time to get a new welding helmet, here are four signs that will let you know a new helmet is needed.
Eye Fatigue
Should you find your eyes are getting more and more fatigued as you perform welding jobs, it is definitely time to get yourself a new welding helmet. When you suffer eye fatigue, this means there is too much light passing through the lens on your helmet. As a result, you could develop blurry or double vision while welding, which could prove to be disastrous.
Does Not Fit Properly
If you have worn the same welding helmet for many years, there is a good chance it no longer fits as well as it did when it was first purchased. While it is possible it may now be too tight for your liking, there is a greater chance it is now too loose for comfort. If this is the case, there is the chance your helmet could shift unexpectedly when you are welding, possibly exposing your neck to possible burns. Should this be the case, look over the selection of speedglas adflo helmets.
Not Up to Code
As safety measures are improved within the welding industry and other industries as well, it is possible your current welding helmet may no longer meet current safety codes. If you think this may be the case, you should check current code requirements with the International Safety Equipment Association and your employer to know if you need a new helmet.
The Sun Test
Finally, putting on your welding helmet and staring at the sun for a moment or two will help indicate whether or not you need a new helmet. If you have an auto-darkening helmet, you should notice your helmet’s lens quickly adjust for the increased intensity in light once you look up at the sun. If it doesn’t change or seems too slow for your liking, buy a new helmet.
If you have any concerns about your current welding helmet, it’s best to buy a new one. By doing so, you’ll have peace of mind and know you are using the very best in current safety equipment while on the job.