Home welding is a rewarding skill, but it comes with serious hazards — intense UV/IR radiation, molten metal spatter, toxic fumes, and fire risk. Getting the right safety gear before you strike your first arc is not optional; it's essential for protecting yourself, your family, and your property.
The Core Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Every home welder needs a solid set of PPE. Cutting corners here can result in permanent eye damage, severe burns, or long-term lung disease.
Welding Helmet
A welding helmet is your most critical piece of gear. Look for an auto-darkening helmet with a lens shade of at least shade 9–13, depending on your welding process:
- MIG/MAG welding: shade 10–12
- Stick (SMAW) welding: shade 10–13
- TIG welding: shade 9–13
Auto-darkening helmets switch from a light state to the correct shade in milliseconds, making them far safer and more practical than fixed-shade lenses. Make sure the helmet meets AS/NZS 1338.1 (filters for eye protectors used in welding). Check the packaging or product spec sheet before buying.
Welding Gloves
Leather welding gloves protect your hands from spatter, heat, and UV radiation. Heavy-duty gauntlet-style gloves are best for stick and MIG welding. For TIG welding, thinner leather gloves give better dexterity. Look for gloves compliant with AS/NZS 2161 series standards.
Welding Jacket or Sleeves
A leather or flame-resistant (FR) welding jacket protects your arms and torso from spatter and radiant heat. Avoid synthetic fabrics — they can melt onto skin. At minimum, wear FR cotton sleeves if a full jacket feels too hot. Never weld in a t-shirt.
Welding Boots
Wear leather boots with no exposed lacing eyelets at the top — spatter loves to drop into lace holes. Steel-capped boots are a bonus but not mandatory for light home work.
Respiratory Protection
Welding fumes are a serious health hazard. Many fumes contain manganese, chromium, and other toxic metals. For home workshop use:
- Ensure strong ventilation first (see below)
- Use a P2-rated respirator as a minimum for general mild steel MIG/stick welding
- Use a P3 or supplied-air respirator if welding galvanised, stainless, or coated metals — these produce far more dangerous fumes
WorkSafe NZ has detailed guidance on welding fume hazards that applies equally to home workshops.
Eye Protection Under the Helmet
Always wear safety glasses (AS/NZS 1337) under your helmet. When chipping slag or grinding, the helmet is off — and that's when flying debris causes eye injuries.
Ventilation: Non-Negotiable
Good ventilation is as important as any PPE. Welding in an enclosed garage or shed without airflow concentrates toxic fumes rapidly. At minimum:
- Open doors and windows to create cross-flow ventilation
- Use a fan to push fumes away from your breathing zone (not across it)
- Consider a fume extraction unit or welding fume extractor arm if you weld regularly
Never weld in a confined space without professional extraction equipment.
Fire Safety Equipment
Spatter and UV heat can ignite combustibles metres away. Before you weld:
- Clear the area of flammable materials (rags, paint, timber, fuel containers)
- Keep a CO₂ or dry powder fire extinguisher within arm's reach — not just somewhere in the garage
- Have a fire blanket handy for smothering small fires or protecting nearby surfaces
- After welding, wait and watch — hot metal and smouldering materials can ignite fires 30–60 minutes later
Protecting Bystanders and Your Workshop
- Use welding screens or curtains (typically orange or green opaque vinyl) to shield others from arc flash
- Never let anyone look at the arc without proper eye protection — even a brief glance can cause arc eye (photokeratitis)
- Keep children and pets well away from the welding area
Electrical Safety for Home Welders
Your welder plugs into your home's electrical system. A few important points:
- Most home MIG welders run on 230V single-phase — a standard NZ outlet
- Larger stick or MIG machines may need a dedicated 15A or 20A circuit — this wiring work is restricted electrical work and must be done by a registered electrician. Check the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) to verify your electrician's licence
- Always inspect your welder's earth clamp and cables before use — damaged insulation is a shock and fire hazard
- Never weld in wet conditions or on wet ground
Gas Safety (MIG and TIG Welders)
If you use shielding gas (argon, CO₂, or mixed gas), store cylinders upright and secured to a wall bracket. Cylinders must never be stored near heat sources or in direct sunlight. Leaking gas in an enclosed space is an asphyxiation and explosion risk. Check connections with soapy water, not a flame.
When to Call a Professional
While home welding is legal for non-structural, non-regulated work, some jobs must be handled by a qualified welder or tradesperson:
- Structural steel repairs or fabrication that forms part of your home's structure (likely requires building consent — check with your local council and MBIE Building Performance)
- Gas pipe welding or repairs — this is restricted work under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB)
- Pressure vessels, trailers for road use, or anything with a safety-critical certification requirement
If you're unsure whether your project needs a consent or a licensed tradesperson, always check with your council first. You can find qualified local welders and fabricators on tradedirectory.co.nz.
Sources & Further Reading
- WorkSafe NZ – Welding Fumes and Health Hazards
- MBIE Building Performance – Building Consent Information
- Electrical Workers Registration Board – Find a Licensed Electrician
- Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board – Restricted Work
- Standards NZ – AS/NZS Standards for PPE
- BRANZ – Safe Building and Construction Practices
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