down with welding fumes!

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contents why this booklet?

Good welding requires skill. Two loose elements become one and what has been joined has been really joined. This skilled work can also bring health risks with it. It is important to consider this, because a sensible welder takes his health seriously, as it is worth a great deal!

With welding you run the risk of breathing in welding fume. This can be harmful to

your health. You can limit that risk through applying the correct, sometimes simple,

measures. In this booklet we give you some advice on how you can work safely and

healthily, because a professional welder should have a professional work attitude.

Why this booklet? 3What is welding fume? 4What are the risks? 5

What can I do? 6

Before you start welding 7Welding fume cloud 8Local exhaust ventilation 9Welding helmets 10Do you need help? Ask for an Improvement coach! 11

Further information 12

2 | down with welding fumes!

4 | down with weldig fumes!

what iswelding fume?

Welding fume is the mixture of � ne dust particles, gasses and vapours that are released during welding and related processes (cutting and soldering).

These particles and gasses are harmful to ones / your health and can cause irritation to

the airways and eyes.

Particularly high concentrations of welding fume occur in the rising fume cloud.

This cloud is always larger than what is visible to the naked eye.

the fume cloud is larger than you can see

what arethe risks?

The direct effects of welding fume may include irritation of the eyes, The direct effects of welding fume may include irritation of the eyes, The direct effects of welding fume may include irritation of the eyes, The direct effects of welding fume may include irritation of the eyes, The direct effects of welding fume may include irritation of the eyes, throat and airways complaints.

Long-term effects include lung conditions, such as chronic bronchitis. The most

alarming scenarios refer to the possibility of cancer, particularly in welding processes

where a lot of welding fume is created, as in MAG welding and welding with a coated

electrode.

Once the welding fume has penetrated your lungs, you will never eradicate it.

It is just like making a weld, what’s done is done.

welding fume attaches itself to your lungs

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before you start welding

Together with your employer you can ensure that you and your workmates can work safely and healthily. You can comply with the rules by taking the correct measures.

An employer has certain obligations in this matter, as you do yourself. It is also

important that you use the existing provisions, such as exhaust ventilation and

breathing protection, correctly. Speak to your employer if things are not (yet) in order

in your company. Do that through the workers council or the staff representatives if

they exist in your company. You will certainly � nd a solution together.

The less welding fume is released, the better. So start checking whether you can use a welding technique that produces as little welding fume as possible. Or discuss this with your foreman.

If you nevertheless have to weld, then remove dirt, rust, grease, oil and paint layers and

coatings from the material to be welded before you start welding. That will prevent you

breathing in harmful substances.

Always use controls such as exhaust ventilation, room ventilation and protective

clothing, such as welding helmets. They are there to be used. Check regularly

whether they are still working, whether � lters, for example, have been promptly

replaced. Where that is no longer the case, report the matter to your superior.

tackling welding fume together

use the controls in the correct manner

what canI do?

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welding fume cloud

Try as good as possible to keep your head out of the cloud i.e. position the suction

nozzle to suck the welding fume away from you. Remember that the welding fume

cloud is always larger than what you can see.

Are there provisions for exhaust ventilation? If so, remember that local exhaust ventilation makes sense only if you position the suction nozzle close to the welding arc, otherwise the fume will still enter your lungs.

Use the diameter of the suction opening as the maximum distance. For most systems

this means a maximum of 30 to 40 cm. Proper extraction at the source also protects

your fellow workers who are working in the same space.

If you have to move the suction nozzle more than ten times an hour, then it is really

no longer practicable. Then better use torch extraction, for example, when the use of

an overpressure helmet or the improved welding helmet (which extends down to the

chest) would be preferable. This is also the case when you cannot position the suction

nozzle close enough to the weld because of the shape of the workpiece.

keep your head out of the fume cloud

If you are going to weld it is important to mind your posture. Not just to limit your physical strains, but also to prevent you from inhaling welding fumes.

position local exhaust ventila-tion close to your workpiece

local exhaust ventilation

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weldinghelmets

do you need help? ask for an Improvement coach!

Fresh air helmets are the most effective form of breathing protection. If these are not available in your company, ask if you may test one. They have become much more comfortable recently and many of your fellow welders use them every day.

Whatever you do, take care not to raise the visor of your helmet too soon after welding.

Count to � ve before you raise it. Otherwise you still run the risk of breathing in a

considerable volume of welding fume.

Or use a helmet with a welding window that changes colour automatically. In this way

you have a good view of your work and do not need constantly to raise your whole

helmet. There are also welding helmets with a welding window that tilts up separately.

Calling in an Improvement coach can help greatly to make your work place safer and healthier.

Improvement coaches provide information and advice. As specialists, not only in

the � eld of welding fume, but also of harmful noise, hazardous substances, physical

workload, machinery safety and behaviour and culture, they answer questions

and offer solutions. Tailormade and free of charge. For example, they can give

presentations (toolboxes) on how to deal with welding fume or assist in � lling in

the ‘Verbetercheck lasrook’.

Not only you personally, but also your employer, your safety of� cer, working conditions

coordinator and your workers council can use the services of an Improvement coach.

An Improvement coach will visit your site, if necessary. On the back of this booklet you

can read how and when you can contact the Improvement coaches.

count to 5 before raising your welding helmet

ask for an Improvement coach!

12 | down with weldig fumes!

If you require additional advice in your company, you can also call in one of the

Improvement coaches. They give independent advice to welders and companies,

free of charge and tailormade, on working safely and healthily.

You can contact the Improvement coaches on the Improvement line:

0800 55 55 005 (free of charge) every weekday between 12.00 noon and 2.00 p.m.

further information

5xbeter is a joint initiative of

to improve health and safety in the Dutch metalworking and metal-electric sector.

www.5xbeter.nl | May 2013