Welding Fume Hazards

1
Welding Fume Hazards Controls

• Presented by
• Stu Bailey Mike Clark

2
Evaluation
3
Evaluation of Welding Fume Hazards

• Review MSDSs
• Consumables, base metals, coatings, cleaners
• Conduct air monitoring
• Determine need for controls or respiratory
  protection
• Select appropriate controls or respiratory
  protection
• Determine the effectiveness of controls or
  respiratory protection

4
Control Methods
5
Hierarchy of Controls

• Engineering controls
• Initial design specifications
• Methods of substitution, process change,
  isolation, or ventilation
• Administrative controls
• Reduce work times in contaminated areas
• Other work rules
• Personal protective equipment
• Method of last resort
• Used in conjunction with engineering or other
  controls

6
Engineering Controls for Welding

• Substitution
• Substitute a less hazardous material for one that
  is harmful to health
• Change the process
• Automate (robotic or laser welding)
• Remove paint/coatings from metal
• Isolation
• Worker, process, or work operation

7
Engineering Controls for Welding

• Ventilation
• Local exhaust ventilation systems
• Capture or contain contaminants at source
• System consists of one of more hoods, ducts, an
  air cleaner, and a fan
• Flexible or movable ventilation systems needed
• A must when welding potentially toxic materials
• Proper method to control exposure to welding
  fumes

8
Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems
9
Engineering Controls for Welding

• Ventilation
• General ventilation systems
• Add or remove air from work areas
• Use natural convection through open doors or
  windows, roof ventilators, and chimneys
• Air movement produced by fans or blowers
• Use in conjunction with local exhaust ventilation

10
Administrative Controls for Welding

• Reduce work times in contaminated areas
• Job rotation
• Schedule work to reduce number of employees
  exposed
• Other work rules
• Keep head out of fumes
• Stand upwind of direction of fumes

11
Personal Protective Equipment

• Respiratory protection
• Use in conjunction with engineering and/or
  administrative controls
• Use when engineering and/or administrative
  controls are not feasible
• Employer must select the appropriate type of
  respirator
• Employer must implement and maintain a
  respiratory protection program

12
Questions
13
Welding Fume Health Effects

• Disorders and Symptoms

14
Aluminum

• Has shown increases in dementia
• Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis
• Parkinsons dementia
• Alzheimers (speculation)

15
Beryllium

• Berylliosis scarring of the lungs preventing
  exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. There is
  no cure
• Lung cancer
• Mostly inhaled soluble beryllium compounds and
  dust

16
Cadmium

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Released enzymes from damaged cells in lungs
  results in irreversible damage

17
Chromium

• Hexavalent chromium from welding
• Trivalent from soluble salts
• New hexavalent chromium standard
• Ulceration of nasal septum, skin
• Not considered a carcinogen as a fume

18
Cobalt

• Asthma
• Cumulative lung changes
• dermatitis

19
Copper

• Eye nose and throat irritation
• Metal fume fever
• Acute lung damage edema
• Eye, upper respiratory tract irritation

20
Iron

• Siderosis fibrosis of the lungs caused by iron
  oxide exposure
• Disturbances in lung function
• Diabetes mellitus

21
Magnesium

• Metal fume fever chills, fever, muscle aches

22
Manganese

• Manganism (manganese encephelopathy) similar to
  Parkinsons
• Symptoms are irritability, difficulty in walking,
  speech disturbances
• Compulsive behaviors running, fighting,
  singing
• Liver cirrhosis

23
Nickel

• Respiratory tract carcinogen lung and nasal
  cancer
• Nickel carbonyl - formed by combining nickel
  fumes and carbon monoxide is extremely toxic

24
Lead

• Peripheral neuropathy damage that interrupts
  communication between the brain and other parts
  of the body and can impair muscle movement,
  prevent normal sensation in the extremities, and
  cause pain
• Also affects kidney, gastrointestinal,
  reproductive and skeletal systems

25
Vanadium

• Skin and eye irritant
• Gastrointestinal distress, nausea, vomiting,
  abdominal pain, cardiac palpitation, tremor,
  nervous depression, and kidney damage.

26
Zinc

• Metal fume fever