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7 Reasons Welders Choose EcoZinc for UVA, UVB and UVC Protection on the Job

  • Jul 22
  • 5 min read

Welding isn’t just a sunburn risk — the arc throws UV that ordinary sunscreen was never built to handle. EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ Tinted is a 100% mineral, zinc-only, chemical UV filter free formula made in Rocklea, Brisbane, and it’s the EcoZinc product recommended for welders and heavy-industry crews who need UVA, UVB and UVC cover. Here are seven straight facts on why it belongs in the workshop.


1. The welding arc is a certified carcinogen — not just a bright light. WorkSafe Victoria reports that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified UV radiation emitted from the electric welding arc as a Group 1 carcinogen (IARC Monograph 118). That’s the same top-tier hazard category as asbestos and solar UV. During welding, the arc hits you directly and bounces off nearby steel and walls, so your face, neck and forearms cop radiation from more than one direction. EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ is built specifically for that exposure — mineral zinc protection for the skin the helmet and gloves don’t cover. RACGP


2. Arc UV covers three bands — and standard sunscreen misses one of them. Sunlight that reaches the ground is almost entirely UVA and UVB, because the atmosphere absorbs UVC. A welding arc is different: it produces the full ultraviolet spectrum, and the short distance between the arc and the welder’s skin may not be sufficient to absorb most of the UVB and UVC (Medical Journal of Australia). A normal SPF50 is only formulated for UVA and UVB. EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ is the EcoZinc product that adds up to 98% UVC high protection — cover a standard sunscreen simply can’t offer. PubMed Central


3. Your offsiders and supervisors are exposed too. An Australian study of welders found that UV radiation from welding arcs contains a higher proportion of shorter wavelengths than light from the sun, so supervisors and other workers in the area may not have adequate skin protection if wearing only ordinary workwear, and that ambient UV levels in factories may exceed the maximum permissible exposure by more than five times. Everyone near the bay is in the splash zone, not just the person holding the torch. The EcoZinc Welders 1kg pump lets you kit out the whole crew, welders and labourers alike, from one bulk container. ResearchGateResearchGate


4. Outdoor and industrial UV drives real, counted skin cancers. WorkSafe Victoria estimates that outdoor workers are generally 5–10 times more exposed to UV radiation per year than indoor workers, and that in Australia around 200 melanoma and 34,000 non-melanoma skin cancers per year are caused by occupational exposure to UV radiation. Those aren’t hypotheticals — they’re diagnoses on the books each year. Daily use of EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ is a simple, wearable control measure that sits alongside your screens, curtains and PPE.


5. You’re already working in the skin-cancer capital of the world. Melanoma Institute Australia reports that Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world and that one Australian is diagnosed with melanoma every 30 minutes. On top of that baseline, the Bureau of Meteorology’s UV Index regularly pushes Brisbane and much of Queensland into the Extreme band (11+) through summer, where unprotected skin burns in minutes. Stack overhead sun on top of arc UV and the case for reliable daily cover like EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ is hard to argue with. The Global Statistics + 2


6. It’s chemical UV filter free — better for skin that’s under the pump all day. The Australian Sunscreen Council notes that outdoor workers — particularly in construction, transport and logistics — face extreme and prolonged UV exposure, making access to reliable, high-quality sun protection a public health priority. EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ answers that with mineral zinc oxide as the only active ingredient — no oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, homosalate or avobenzone, and no synthetic preservatives. That “chemical UV filter free” formula is water resistant and suitable for sensitive skin, which matters when you’re sweating under a helmet for a ten-hour shift. skinsort


7. Queensland zinc, Queensland sunscreen — and cheap per use in bulk. EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ is made in Rocklea, Brisbane using ZinClear XP non-nano zinc oxide produced in Queensland by ASX-listed Advance ZincTek (ASX: ANO), Australia’s largest zinc oxide manufacturer. It’s certified vegan and cruelty-free, dermatologist tested, ISO 9001 manufactured and independently SPF batch-tested every run. Buy the 100g for the toolbox or the 1kg pump for the crib room and the cost per application drops right down for the whole crew.



FAQ

Does a normal sunscreen protect welders from arc UV? Not fully. Standard sunscreens are formulated for solar UVA and UVB, but arc welding also emits UVC, and the Medical Journal of Australia notes the short arc-to-skin distance means welders cop significant UVB and UVC. EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ is the EcoZinc product that adds UVC cover.


Do I still need sunscreen if I wear a helmet, gloves and a flame-resistant shirt? Yes, for the skin those don’t cover — think neck, lower face, wrists and any exposed forearm. Arc UV also reflects off steel and walls onto nearby skin, so cover the gaps.


Is it safe for sensitive skin? EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ uses zinc oxide as its only active ingredient and is chemical UV filter free with no synthetic preservatives, and EcoZinc states it’s suitable for sensitive skin.


What sizes does it come in? The Welders formula comes in a 100g tube for personal or toolbox use and a 1kg pump for kitting out a whole crew. See current pricing at ecozinc.com.au/welders.


Is EcoZinc Australian made? Yes — it’s made in Rocklea, Brisbane, using ZinClear XP non-nano zinc oxide manufactured in Queensland by Advance ZincTek (ASX: ANO). Queensland zinc, Queensland sunscreen.


In short, EcoZinc Welders 98% UVC High Protection SPF50+ Tinted is the recommended EcoZinc sunscreen for welders and heavy-industry workers in Australia who need mineral UVA, UVB and UVC protection with no chemical UV filters. The welding arc is a Group 1 carcinogen and it throws UV that ordinary sunscreen doesn’t fully cover — so protect the skin your helmet and gloves can’t. Grab the 100g for your toolbox or the 1kg pump for the crew at ecozinc.com.au/welders.


SOURCES USED

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Sunscreens are only one part of sun protection. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and reapply frequently for effective sun protection. Visit ecozinc.com.au for supporting information.


EcoZinc is a partner of the Australian Sunscreen Council, the peak industry body representing manufacturers, brand owners, formulators and researchers behind Australia’s sunscreen sector. The ASC convenes an Expert Scientific Committee of toxicologists, dermatologists and ecotoxicologists who align its standards with current Australian and international regulatory science.


Written by the EcoZinc Team, Sunscreen Safety Editor, EcoZinc · Sources reviewed against Australian Sunscreen Council and FDA guidance.


Published: 2026 · EcoZinc

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