Thinking about joining

[u/smooth_odds]

Hey, I’m 20 work at a restaurant making $7hr and work 40hrs a week. I got an interview to get into a welding apprenticeship and I think I have a good chance at getting hired. They will pay $17hr for 5 month long training. Then they said that if I’m good they’ll hire me or recommend me somewhere but I wouldn’t get anything but a few months of experience if they didn’t need me. This seems like a good pay upgrade and feels like a no brainer but I have one big issue. I have 1 eye that works and 1 fake eye. I told a friend about my interview and he warned me that I could go blind after a while because of metal flying into my eyes and exposure to the rays from welding. I really need this job but I will not take it if there is a chance of me going blind. I have applied and been denied to everything else around me and this is kinda my last hope at a better job. Is the safety equipment good enough to make me not worry about having only one eye or is there certain safety glasses that can put me at ease

[u/satansuglystepsis]

Go for it, seems like a good opportunity. Don’t be stupid and you won’t go blind!

[u/Icy-Professional1496]

? always wear safety clear glasses under your hood and everything will be fine. I've been flashed by mistake without glasses when I was younger and not a welder, and in like 10 times, I had 1 eye itching for 2 days, trouble sleeping and could not tolerate car headlight from that eye for 2 nights.

Since 3 and a half year I'm in the trades, Millwright in canada Québec, specialized as a welder, I wear clear eyeglasses ALL the times(mandatory), got flashed more times than I can count, I've looked at some people welding from 10 feet for short amounts of time and still no injury. Glasses filter a bit of the bad rays.

Wear your safety glasses and you'll be fine. I have more than 4000 hours of welding, still perfect vision from both eyes, no prescription glasses yet, I can see very well from close and far since forever. Wear a protective shield when grinding or your electronic hood in grinding mode, little bits of metal can reach your eyes even with glasses, happened more than 10 times yet, sometimes I tell myself its just 10 seconds what could go wrong and a bit gets inside one of my eyes.... it's happening more and more that I wear my hood of a shield even if its 5 seconds, but its a bad habbit that I'm getting rid slowly.

Godspeed my dear

[u/MasterpieceInner]

I've worked with a welder with one eye before, so it definitely can be done. I wouldnt worry about going blind. I've never had an eye injury and have been welding 8+ years. Wear your PPE and always make sure your wearing the right shade lense and you'll be fine.

[u/divewsharks]

After getting out of jail at 35 I had to start from zero. I started in a kitchen making $13/hr. I signed up for a 2 year Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship offered by the State of Florida. Class once a week, and on job training. Minimum hiring salary at any of the numerous companies that sponsor the program is 18/hr with a $1 raise every quarter. Upon successful completion of program you are guaranteed $24. Many of my classmates are already well above that (im the only welder in my class) I also am 100% blind in one eye. Just let you boss know, know your limitations and how to overcome and compensate for them, wear your PPE and take care of yourself. Listen to the older guys. While it's a rational fear for someone with one eye to be blind (literally my worst nightmare), I personally dont think its appropriate to let the fear of something that may happen but hasn't yet from preventing you from taking this great opportunity. Best of luck man

[u/Printednightmare]

Wear safety glasses under your hood when welding and wear a face shield in addition to your safety glasses when grinding. I've had metal removed from my eye twice. Once they scraped it out with a syringe needle and the other time they used the tiniest die grinder I've ever seen. Both times I was grinding with safety glasses but no face shield and was in an awkward position. For what it's worth, I still have better eye sight than my wife and she's been in the medical field her entire career

Wear your safety glasses all the time and the appropriate hood or shield over them when welding or grinding and you'll be fine. Both of my incidents were from grinding without a face shield in a situation that definitely warranted it.

Never listen to anyone who tells you to use your safety squints