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Welding Fume Hazards & Controls. Presented by: Stu Bailey & Mike Clark . Evaluation. Evaluation of Welding Fume Hazards. Review MSDSs Consumables, base metals, coatings, cleaners Conduct air monitoring Determine need for controls or respiratory protection
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Welding Fume Hazards & Controls Presented by: Stu Bailey & Mike Clark
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Welding Fume Health Effects Disorders and Symptoms
Aluminum • Has shown increases in dementia • Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis • Parkinsons dementia • Alzheimers (speculation)
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
Cadmium • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • Released enzymes from damaged cells in lungs results in irreversible damage
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
Cobalt • Asthma • Cumulative lung changes • dermatitis
Copper • Eye nose and throat irritation • Metal fume fever • Acute lung damage – edema • Eye, upper respiratory tract irritation
Iron • Siderosis – fibrosis of the lungs caused by iron oxide exposure • Disturbances in lung function • Diabetes mellitus
Magnesium • Metal fume fever – chills, fever, muscle aches
Manganese • Manganism (manganese encephelopathy) similar to Parkinson’s • Symptoms are irritability, difficulty in walking, speech disturbances • Compulsive behaviors – running, fighting, singing • Liver cirrhosis
Nickel • Respiratory tract carcinogen – lung and nasal cancer • Nickel carbonyl - formed by combining nickel fumes and carbon monoxide – is extremely toxic
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
Vanadium • Skin and eye irritant • Gastrointestinal distress, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cardiac palpitation, tremor, nervous depression, and kidney damage.
Zinc • Metal fume fever