Welding is a process of joining metals by introducing a ‘filler metal’. This filler is electrically charged becomes molten and bonds the two pieces one wishes to join. Welding is an integral part of most manufacturing process and if you look at any building and or product containing metal, you will probably find welds. (riveting or bolting is also an option)
Welders in the USA are pretty well trained for much is riding on their ability. Build practically anything with metal and you need capable welders-cars trains, bridges, bikes, motorcycles, planes, buses, boats, machinery, etc.
In order to perform their jobs safely, welders typically need these things. (photo from Miller welding gear)
Not only does the welder need to protect himself as a tremendous amount of current is flowing through the welding rig, but he also needs to shield his eyes and skin from molten metal that sparks from the welds he is making. In addition, it is imperative to see the ‘bead’ or the line of molten metal that he is drawing to ensure a quality weld.
in the USA we have various agencies in charge of testing, qualifying and certifying welders and they typically do a pretty good job.
These, however, are welders in China 
Yes this man who seems to be snoozing rather than joining two hunks of metal upon which the lives of many will depend, but then again this is China.
Aside from their weld positions, other concerns come to mind
Do they look safe? Can we assume that a man who is
hanging on for dear life has a sufficient level of concentration to make a weld with enough structural integrity upon which we may trust our lives?
What will his work product be like?
And even if we ignore the big picture, how about his equipment. What does a professional Chinese welder don before undertaking his tasks? lets see, Chinese are nice so I will befriend him and learn about his secrets.
Here he comes. His protective shield and goggles seem odd, but maybe I am being ethnocentric or a snob.
Here he comes, a real Chinese professional ….And now lets meet my new friend
Hmm that is odd, he does not look much like a professional welder. So I decided to go investigate and found out that
………………………….
his weld ‘hood’ was a piece of cardboard and his ‘goggles’ were nothing more than sunglasses. But rest assured because the boss man was on the scene to ensure a quality product
This photo series if nothing else should serve to warn people about the realities of China. The people are great but communism, greed and corruption have left their work product to be a thing of scorn. While it is politically correct to not call them ‘reds’ chicoms and the like, it should not be politically correct to ignore obvious signs of malfeasance. This photo spread shows the reality of China and should not be ignored.
The Chinese made the statue of Martin Luther King, they have manufactured a bridge for us in San francisco and many other things and we, like idiotic sheep continue to trust big business both in China and the states as they proclaim the Chinese miracle.
Who could not build hundreds of thousands of apartments with this of quality and workmanship. The problem is that business does not want us to know about this stuff for if we did we’d shit in our collective pants and demand change. So its much easier to disqualify such pics as an outlier. My response to that would be, this is China.
Believe what you will, but next time someone tells you about the China miracle and quality please feel free to send them this link or download the pics and send them around. The more we know the better off we are. Maybe these photos show why a typical Chinese building lasts 30 years while ours last 90.
Just remember both of these guys are paid what they are worth. The question is to whom shall you give your money?
who do you trust ? 
photos from millerwelds-com nasdonline-org thefabricator-com
also posted here
Understanding China, One Blog at a Time 