Welding fumes are a complex mixture of gases and fine particles that can be inhaled by workers, potentially causing respiratory problems, lung cancer, and other related health issues. To protect workers from overexposure, regulatory agencies, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and non-regulatory agencies, like the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), have established standards and occupational exposure limits (OELs) for welding fumes.
Welding fumes contain various metals, gases, and chemicals that can harm a welder’s lungs. Fumes emitted from welding on stainless steel, for example, may contain hexavalent chromium, which poses serious health risks. They may also contain metals such as lead, manganese, cadmium, nickel, zinc, and other components found in the welded metal and welding rod, wire, or stick. All welding processes, including MIG, TIG, stick, torch, laser, and plasma torch welding, emit fumes.
Although each type of welding process presents unique hazards, the only way to determine if a process poses a health risk to welders is to conduct an employee industrial hygiene assessment, typically involving personal air monitoring. The most common method is to use a battery-operated personal sampling device placed on the welder that collects samples in the “breathing zone.” These samples are then analyzed by an accredited laboratory under the American Industrial Hygiene Association Laboratory Accreditation Program.
As industrial hygiene professionals, Tara Management Consulting (TMC) can assess potential exposures to welding fumes through the development of an industrial hygiene assessment plan. This assessment provides data on employee exposures, forming the basis for implementing necessary steps to protect workers. TMC can also assist in designing exposure-reduction measures.
An industrial hygiene assessment includes air monitoring for welders to measure the levels of hazardous chemicals in the air they breathe. This program helps determine the effectiveness of existing control measures. Monitoring is essential for several reasons, including:
Protecting workers
Identifying health hazards
Ensuring compliance with OSHA and ACGIH standards
Evaluating control measures
Air monitoring can be conducted through various methods to assess the levels of contaminants, including:
Personal air monitoring: Equipment is placed inside the welder's helmet or visor so they can wear it while welding.
Area monitoring: This involves sampling the air in the workplace to determine the overall levels of welding fumes.
This assessment enables certified industrial hygiene professionals to identify workers at risk of overexposure and take preventive measures, such as engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation) and personal protective equipment (respiratory protection).
Finally, monitoring potential exposures to welding fumes helps ensure that workplaces comply with OSHA safety regulations. Regulatory agencies have established exposure limits to protect workers from overexposure. By monitoring exposure levels, industrial hygiene professionals can help ensure regulatory compliance and worker safety.
As certified industrial hygiene professionals, TMC is committed to working closely with our clients to prioritize worker health and safety, ensuring that essential steps are taken to protect employees from potential exposures.
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