AWS Visual Acuity Exam

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Hi Guys!I'm new here and have a question about the AWS Visual Acuity test.  While I don't weld (sorry), I head up all the training & certification at my company who does a lot of welding.  We do primarily exhaust, radiator and air-intake parts.Some of our customers demand that our welders pass the AWS Visual Acuity Exam.  I learned today that one of our mig & tig  welders is classified as color blind per the eye exam.I cannot find anything stating that a color blind welder cannot weld (as yet).  I have seen where someone might have trouble passing some of the exams (CWE, maybe a CWI), but nothing on a welder.  There certainly is nothing in the customer spec.  So, I will probably not mention this to them.Is anyone aware of any issues this may cause?Thanks!Karen
Reply:The colored tips on tungsten might be an issue but even that's not going to completely keep your guy from doing his job and that's only if your company tigs. Otherwise hoses are set up so that they can't be cross connected. And all other safety devices rely on wording or symbols as well as color so I see no issue,
Reply:Looking at the AWS web site that exam looks to be for inspectors only. but who know I have seen far stranger lately.http://files.aws.org/certification/d...cord-62507.pdfTO APPLICANTS:This form must be submitted for all Welding Inspector and Radiographic Interpreter applications. Applicants for the Certified Welding Educator only are not required to complete this form.I can't find a reference of it applying to a weldor.
Reply:I'd like to find anyone who can differentiate between colors through a Shaded & Tinted hood  using the Light output of the ArcEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Visual acuity exam does not apply to weldor qualification, only inspectors.  Outside of client requirements, it's not an issue.
Reply:AWS D17.1, Para. 4.2.1 - Physical Requirements - Welders and welding operators shall have vision acuity of 20/30 or better in either eye, and shall be able to read the Jaeger No. 2 Eye Chart at 16 in.So not only can you be color blind, you can weld with one eye.  Good thing for all you Monday morning brown bottle flu victims......On the other hand - AMS-STD-1595, which was referenced as a qualification standard by many other specifications, required operators to have the above visual accuity AND a one-time color vision test.AMS-STD-1595 has been cancelled and replaced by AWS D17.1.Regards, KbnitI r 2 a perfessional
Reply:Thanks for everyone's input.  As I mentioned in the 1st post, this is a customer requirement for all of our tig & mig welders, so we had no choice but to do this.  They take bits & pieces of AWS and apply where they feel the need.  I asked management to confront the customer to ask "why???", but that'll never happen.Thanks again!Karen
Reply:Originally Posted by khansonSome of our customers demand that our welders pass the AWS Visual Acuity Exam.  I learned today that one of our mig & tig  welders is classified as color blind per the eye exam.Is anyone aware of any issues this may cause?
Reply:khanson,The visual acuity test only test a persons ability to see at close range. The color blind test is different from acuity. The AWS form is set up with both tests on it. If your only required to pass the acuity then the color blind portion need not be performed or reported. It sounds like your fine to me. If your using the AWS form reread the instructions and you'll see it described as two separate tests. I have seen the acuity requirement on previous project and I do see the importance. It's hard to know what the arc is doing when it looks like a big fuzzy ball of sparks. Some employers also require there welders to have the test annually. This is to monitor the welders ability to see what is going on, if he needs to use a cheater or wear glasses under the hood. I have found that when this happens the welders are much better when vision is corrected. It can be a difficult thing to bring up to a good welder that is suddenly not performing up to his potential. It works better than QC questioning there ability to see and making them defensive and unwilling to consider it as an issue.
Reply:Agreed, qaqc, I had a welder who's work was going downhill so fast that I was ready to pull his stamp.  Seemed like he was long-arcing everything.  Went back and checked his vision certs, he'd passed no problem.  Tapped him on the shoulder one day, and when he lifted his hood, no glasses....After we taped them to his head, he was back up to his usual high quality...we test all our welders, and all our inspectors, annually.Regards, KbnitI r 2 a perfessional
Reply:The vision acuity test is required of welders not just inspectors per 4.2.1 of AWS D17.1.  Problem is you have to use a "Jaeger No. 2 Eye Chart".   After consulting with doctors, eye glass centers and a heavy search engine exercise, I can't find "No. 2" chart.  Does anyone know where I can buy this specific eye chart?
Reply:Could it be Paragraph 2 on the Charthttp://www.grahamfield.com/nosync/Do...ic%20Chart.pdfEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:We use the no 2 eye chart.  I have no idea where it came from.  We used to contract out the vision testing for one day a year to an outside optimetric technician.  Now, someone in HR or QA does the tests once or twice a year.If you post the question at the AWS website someone might know.  There are a lot of welding QA people online every day.http://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/forum_show.pl
Reply:We got ours from a local optometrist.A quick google gives several other options, as well as more test infohttp://www.shopping.com/xPO-Graham_F...hart_4_3_4_X_7http://www.grahamfield.com/nosync/Do...ic%20Chart.pdfhttp://www.1cascade.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=3191http://www.asnt.org/publications/mat...ug02basics.htmWe do annual on all welders and inspection personnel.
Reply:i am an aerospace tig welder in ct and i started fresh outta school last january. I have certs. on ss, inconel, and titanium for manual tig and auto tig, as well as auto plasma on ss and inco.  I am really interested in becoming a pipe welder. I have lots of experiance with tig, but not so much with stick or flux core.  I am very interested in learning orbital pipe welding as i was told it was similer to the auto tig i do now. I dont have much experiance welding pipe other than with tig...(thin wall tubing with square groove %100 penetration)  Any suggestions on what I should do?    Also is there any demand for an "orbital rig welder", or does that not even exist?If this is the wrong place for me to be asking this ? then please point me in the right direction as i am new to this site
Reply:All this just for mufflers and radiators???   MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op