A welder is working on a construction site outdoors. They have just finished welding a piece of structural steel and are waiting for the material to cool. A nearby worker without proper eye protection turns on a plasma cutter. What is the primary risk to the welder's eyes if they look towards the plasma cutting arc without their helmet?

Question: A welder is working on a construction site outdoors. They have just finished welding a piece of structural steel and are waiting for the material to cool. A nearby worker without proper eye protection turns on a plasma cutter. What is the primary risk to the welder's eyes if they look towards the plasma cutting arc without their helmet?

Answer options:

• Infrared radiation causing cataracts.
• Impact from sparks and molten metal. ✅ Ultraviolet radiation causing photokeratitis.
• Blue light hazard from the intense visible light.

Correct answer: Ultraviolet radiation causing photokeratitis.

Explanation: Plasma cutting, like arc welding, produces intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Exposure to this UV radiation, even for a short duration, can cause photokeratitis (arc eye), resulting in painful eye irritation and temporary vision loss. While other hazards exist, UV radiation is the primary and immediate risk to the eyes from a plasma cutting arc without appropriate filtering. Cataracts are associated with chronic exposure to IR, and blue light is a concern for retinal damage over time, not typically acute flash injury.