It's well-known that welding is dangerous, and you need to do everything you can to stay safe when handling that torch. To the extent that your budget will allow, use whatever technology is available to make the job safer. But technology isn't the only way to reduce the risk of injury to you as you complete the welding. Evaluating what material you need to weld along with where each weld needs to be located is important, too. This helps you avoid a common problem by allowing you to plan to switch welding techniques to make the job even safer.
Use Auto-Darkening Welding Helmets
When you're the only one doing welding, a regular welding helmet will do as you can lower the shield whenever you're about to start welding. But, if you've got people welding around you, too, as you might on a busy construction project involving lots of structural steel, you'll want an auto-darkening helmet so that you don't accidentally get an eyeful of bright light from another welding arc. Sometimes the timing just works out that you have to look somewhere else just as someone in that direction is starting to weld, and you want the auto-darkening helmet that can take over and protect your eyes.
Use Orbital Welding When Possible
If you have anything cylindrical or round to weld, like a pipe, try to use orbital welding. This is an automated process where you program a computer to run a welding machine that rotates the welding rod around the item that is being welded. This can be used with structural steel and many other types of metal. You'll stand away from the actual welding, so while you'll still need your helmet, you won't be right in the path of sparks.
Use the Correct Type of Welding for Exterior but Enclosed Jobs
The gases given off during some types of welding can be dangerous if the welding is done indoors or in an exterior area that does not have good ventilation. These tight spots are essentially enclosed even if they're mainly outdoors, meaning the gases can't dissipate easily. Even if you're wearing a full helmet over your head, these gases are still too dangerous to be near. If you find that you'll need to weld something that is outdoors but that does not appear to be very open, you may want to switch to using a welding procedure meant for indoor use to be safe.
Reach out to a welding company that performs structural steel welding to learn more.