Best Practices to Reduce Exposure of Welding Fumes

Why welding fumes are hazardous to us?

Controlling these fumes and gasses during welding is essential to welders and its environments.

Different welding methods give rise to different of fumes containing risk to health and unsafe environments.

Welding is classified into two groups: Fusion (heat alone) or pressure (heat and pressure) welding.

There are 3 types of fusion welding, namely electrical arc, gas and thermit. 

Particulate fume is formed mainly by the vaporization of metal and flux. As it cools, the vapour condenses and reacts with the atmospheric oxygen to form fine particles.

This size of the particles (0.01 – 1 micron) tends to influence the toxicity of the fumes, with smaller particles presenting a greater danger.

Health effects of breathing welding fume:

• Acute exposure to welding fume and gases can result in eye, nose and throat irritation, dizziness, and nausea. Workers in the area who experience these symptoms should leave the area immediately, seek fresh air and obtain medical attention.
  
• Prolonged exposure to welding fume may cause lung damage and various types of cancer including lung, larynx, and urinary tract.
  
• Health effects from certain fumes may include metal fume fever, stomach ulcers, kidney damage and nervous system damage. Prolong exposure to manganese fume can cause Parkinson’s – like symptoms.
  
• Gasses such as helium, argon, and carbon dioxide displace oxygen in the air and can lead to suffocation, particularly when welding in confined or enclosed spaces. Carbon monoxide gas can form, posing a serious asphyxiation hazard.

Airborne particles from 2 weeks welding. One single welder produces 20-40 & fumes per hour which correspond to about 33-70 ka ver year

8 Best Practices to Reduce Exposure of Welding Fumes

1. Welders should understand the hazards of the materials they are working with.
   
2. Welding surfaces should be cleaned of any coating that could potentially create toxic exposure, such as solvent residue and paint.
   
3. Workers should position themselves to avoid breathing welding fume and gasses. For example, workers should stay upwind when welding in open or outdoor environments.
   
4. General ventilation, the natural or forced movement of fresh air, can reduce fume and gas levels in the work area. Welding outdoors or in open workspaces does not guarantee adequate ventilation.
   
   In work areas without ventilation and exhaust systems, welders should use natural drafts along with proper positioning to keep fume and gases away from themselves and other workers.
   
5. The local exhaust ventilation system can be used to remove fume and gases from the welder’s breathing zone. Keep fume hoods, fume extractor guns and vacuum nozzles close to the plume source to remove the maximum amount of fume and gasses.
   
   Portable or flexible exhaust systems can be positioned so that fume and gases are drawn away from the welder. Keep exhaust ports away from other workers.
   
6. Consider substituting a lower fume–generating or less toxic welding type of consumable.
   
7. Do not weld in confined spaces without ventilation.
   
8. Respiratory protection may be required if work practices and ventilation do not reduce exposures to safe levels.

For Welding Fume, it’s recommended to use at least a P3 HEPAC filters

The use of a face mask is a means of the solution to the smoke and dust intake that is in the workshop.

The availability of this system can improve the security and efficiency metal manufacturing and cutting process.

The Lens

1. Ensuring a safe working environment
2. To avoid any injuries that may occur
3. Promote safety and health improvements

Sketch of the Smoke Inhaler System Lens