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Welding with a turban

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19K views 76 replies 41 participants last post by  A_DAB_will_do  
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#1 ·
Hi everyone.

So to be clear, I am not indian and do not wear a turban. I am a rig welder (oil and gas) and also a welding instructor. This year my welding class is populated primarily by immigrants, 6 of which wear turbans (my first time dealing with this). I have a pretty serious safety concern with these students wearing these big turbans and trying to perch a welding hood on top of it. If they get themselves flashed or burnt it's on me. I have not ever encountered a welder with a turban in the 16 years I have been in this trade. So I am calling on your guys experience on what you have seen out there to make this work. I have a meeting with the administration and safety about this and would like to have some idea what to do. It has been suggested that other arrangements other than the turban for them, but the students have refused. So I'm at a loss. Thanks guys!

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#72 ·
Just a quick update for everyone. Or safety guy and myself actually consulted with some Sikh elders about this problem, and they told him that the students can switch to a patka or Parna with is basically similar to a welding cap, much smaller than the turban. So this was brought up with the students and they agreed that that still satisfies their religious requirement to keep the head covered. There is still one student that is insisting on wearing a turban. I have actually been given the authority to say to them that turban=no welding now that a religious solution has been found. And on a plus side, for all the trouble and everything that I've had to put into this issue I can expect a brand new optrel panoramax lid sitting on my desk next week lol.

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#73 ·
Sounds like you’re making progress. I was going to advise you to reach out to either a welding instructor in India to see how they handle this, but your local consult with the Sikh elders accomplished the same thing. Kudo’s to you for seeking a solution that respected their beliefs.
 
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#75 ·
I was going to suggest that the student who requested to wear his turban that the turbine and his hair underneath be wet down with water every 15 minutes to satisfy the nonflammable headgear. Hopefully they won't want their heads being soaked down every 15 minutes with the water hose. Make them Bring an alarm clock or timer so That they are responsible for their own Head wedding.
 
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#77 ·
Glad you found a solution that works for the majority of your students. I figured there must be a culturally acceptable fix for this problem. There's lots of welding in India and the neighboring countries. There's also a hands free welding hood that the welder holds in place with their teeth. It's got a bite block right below the lens that keeps the shield in place. Not my cup of tea, but it does let the welder use both hands...

I was going to suggest the mask like the previous poster showed, or a pancake hood.

https://www.amazon.com/Sarge-Pancake-Welding-Hood/dp/B00ZQ2X81A

Hope you're not teaching them overhead welding with E6010 or self shielded fluxcored wire... ;)

good luck with the class.
 
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