Welding Jackets, Gloves & Leathers
Welding throws sparks, spatter and slag, and gives off heat and ultraviolet light. Good clothing keeps hot metal off your skin and keeps your clothes from catching fire. Most burns happen at the gaps: a cuff, a collar, a pocket or a boot top.
- Welding
- Construction
- Fabrication
What to wear
- Gloves: leather gauntlet gloves made for the process. Heavier, thicker gloves suit stick and flux-core welding; thinner, more flexible gloves suit TIG. Keep gloves dry, because a wet glove can conduct heat and electricity.
- Jacket or sleeves: a flame-resistant (FR) cotton jacket or leather jacket, buttoned to the neck. Leather sleeves, bibs and aprons add protection for overhead and out-of-position work.
- Pants: long, flame-resistant or heavy natural-fiber pants with no cuffs, worn over the tops of your boots so sparks can’t fall in.
- Boots: leather work boots with a high top. Add leather spats or boot covers for heavy spatter. See Foot Protection.
- Head and face: a welding helmet with the right shade, safety glasses under it, and a cap or hood for overhead work. See Welding Helmets and Eye & Face Protection.
- Ears and lungs: ear plugs when welding overhead or in a loud area, and respiratory protection when fumes call for it. See Welding Fume.
Choose the right material
| Material | Notes |
|---|---|
| Leather | Resists sparks, spatter and heat. Best for heavy welding, cutting and overhead work. Can be hot and heavy in summer. |
| FR cotton or treated cotton | Lighter and cooler. Chars instead of melting. Read the label: some treatments wash out and must be replaced on schedule. |
| Untreated cotton or wool | Acceptable only for light work, and it can still ignite. Not a substitute for FR clothing where there is a high fire risk. |
| Polyester, nylon, rayon, acetate and other synthetics | Don’t wear. They melt onto skin and burn worse than the spark itself. |
Close the gaps
- Button the collar and the cuffs, and tuck in your shirt
- No rolled-up sleeves or pant cuffs, which catch sparks
- Empty your pockets of lighters, matches and butane, or use flapped pockets
- Gloves overlap the sleeves, and sleeves overlap the gloves from above so slag can’t slide in
- Pants cover the top of your boots
- Take off rings, watches and necklaces that can heat up or catch
Keep your gear in good shape
- Keep leathers clean and dry. Grease, oil, solvent and fuel on clothing can catch fire. If your clothes get soaked with flammable liquid, change them before you weld. See Oily Rags.
- Inspect before each shift for burn-through, thin spots, cracks, torn seams and hard, stiff leather.
- Replace gloves and aprons that are burned, cracked or soaked with sweat and grime.
- Follow the care label on FR clothing, and don’t use bleach or fabric softener on it unless the label allows it.
If your clothing catches fire, stop, drop and roll, or smother the flames. Don’t run. Then get first aid for any burn. See Burn First Aid.
Employer duties
OSHA requires the employer to assess hazards and provide, and generally pay for, required PPE (29 CFR 1910.132 and 1926.95), with some exceptions. Welding rules also require protective clothing suited to the work (see 1910 Subpart Q and 1926 Subpart J). See PPE Hazard Assessment and Welding & Cutting.
Before you strike an arc
- Jacket buttoned; pants outside the boots, no cuffs
- Gloves dry, undamaged and the right type for the process
- No synthetic clothing, and no grease or fuel on clothing
- Pockets emptied; lighters left outside the work area
- Fire watch and extinguisher ready if the job requires them
Standards & references
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