OSHA guidelines when it comes to the shade number and overall darkness are all about how bright the light is being emitted. Oxy-fuel welding and cutting specifically relate to the thickness of the metal being worked on. The higher the thickness, the higher the recommended shade, with the maximum shade requirement being a minimum of shade 5.

Other types of welding may emit higher brightness levels or even more harmful radiation being emitted. For those, you’ll be looking at much higher shade levels, but for oxy-fuel, shade five tends to be the maximum that will be necessary in almost all cases.

Of course, there’s no harm when it comes to going a shade level higher, and even being on the safe side with a shade level six that will be more than enough in this situation, and the plate thickness that even requires a shade level of at least five is six inches or more. One to six inches can use a lower shade level, and below one inch, even a lower shade level, but do keep in mind with a shade level of five, you can handle all common thickness levels.

If you don’t use the minimum or above, you’ll end up causing serious eye damage and possible long-term permanent vision impairment. This would have easily been avoidable with welding safety glasses.