The main hazards of welding are welding fume, electric shock, burns, fire, UV and infrared radiation, flying sparks, hot metal, compressed gases and excessive noise. Employers should carry out a suitable risk assessment and implement appropriate control measures before welding begins. This page explains the immediate physical hazards — burns, arc eye, radiation, noise and electric shock — and how each is controlled.
Welding fume, the most significant long-term health hazard, is covered in detail on our welding fume control and extraction page.
Why is welding safety important?
Welding involves high temperatures, electrical hazards, intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation, fumes and hot metal. Without suitable precautions, these hazards can cause serious injury or long-term health problems. Following safe working practices, using the correct PPE and ensuring effective fume extraction helps protect welders and supports compliance with UK health and safety legislation.
What are the main hazards of welding?
The main hazards include welding fume, electric shock, burns, fire, UV and infrared radiation, flying sparks, hot metal, compressed gases and excessive noise. Before welding begins, employers should carry out a suitable risk assessment and implement appropriate control measures for each hazard identified. The sections below cover the immediate physical hazards in turn.
Can welding cause burns?
Yes. Sparks, molten metal, hot workpieces and ultraviolet radiation can all cause burns. Flame-resistant PPE and good working practices help minimise burn risks. Because burns can come from radiation as well as direct contact, covering exposed skin and using correctly rated eye and face protection both matter — see our welding PPE guide.
Can welding damage your eyes?
Yes. Welding arcs emit intense ultraviolet and infrared radiation that can damage the eyes. Using a correctly rated welding helmet helps protect against arc eye and long-term eye damage. The radiation is invisible, so eye protection must be worn whenever the arc is struck, not only when discomfort is felt.
What is arc eye?
Arc eye, also known as photokeratitis, is a painful condition caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the welding arc. Symptoms include pain, watering eyes and sensitivity to light. Proper eye protection prevents arc eye. Choosing a helmet with the correct lens — including auto-darkening options — is covered in our welding PPE guide.
Can welding damage your hearing?
Yes. Some welding and associated fabrication processes generate noise levels capable of damaging hearing over time. Hearing protection may be required where noise assessments indicate excessive exposure. Noise should be assessed as part of the overall risk assessment, and suitable protection provided where the assessment shows it is needed.
Electric shock and compressed gas hazards
Electric shock and compressed gases are both listed among the main welding hazards. Arc welding uses electrical current, and many processes rely on compressed shielding gases, so both must be addressed in the risk assessment with suitable equipment, training and safe working procedures.
[VERIFY: detailed electric-shock control measures (e.g. earthing, insulation, dry conditions) and gas-cylinder handling and storage guidance — the source Q&As name electric shock and compressed gases as hazards but provide no specific control detail to ground claims here.]
How these hazards are controlled
Controlling welding hazards follows a consistent pattern: assess the risk, remove or reduce the hazard at source where possible, then protect the individual with PPE. Fire risk is addressed through hot work procedures (see our fire safety and hot work page), fume through extraction (see fume control and extraction), and the physical hazards above through correctly selected PPE. Underpinning all of it are the employer’s duties under UK welding regulations and COSHH.
For more on the topic, return to the welding safety hub.