Maintaining Industrial Equipment

According to HSE, 40 to 50 workers are hospitalized each year as a result from inhaling welding fumes. Welders are particularly susceptible to lung infections, and in worst-case scenarios, fatal pneumonia. It is your duty as an employer to take necessary precautions in protecting your workers from any workplace hazard, including welding fumes. You could be held liable should anything unfortunate happen, so make sure you are well aware of any requirements your state has established. There are many safety measures implementable for protecting workers from welding fumes; here are 3.

Control Air Quality with Proper Ventilation

Proper ventilation is an essential control to remove toxic gases and vapors before they have a chance of mixing in with the air in the environment. While there are various ventilation methods implementable, local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is always the preferred method for on-site welding because it can effectively remove the fumes and the gases before they have a chance of mingling with the environment.

There are several different types of LEV: downdraft benches, movable hoods and fume extraction welding guns. Downdraft benches are open-grid working surfaces that draw air downwards into an exhaust ducting. The air speeds of downdraft benches play a crucial role. Movable hoods are also quite practical, although they do limit workers to a more confined space. Fume extraction welding guns, on the other hand, are quite portable, although they are only effective on flat and vertical surfaces and in corners.

Diverting Fumes Away from Breathing Zone with a Welding Helmet

Welding helmets have built-in air-purifying filters and technology to divert plume away from the welder's breathing area. It's crucial that all welders and those working in close proximity of the welders are equipped with their own welding helmet. Depending on the type of metals the welders are working with, the cartridge used in the filters need be to changed or replaced for optimal effectiveness.

For safety purposes, make sure all welding helmets fit. The wearer should have a clear and unrestricted view in all directions. The helmets should also not limit mobility or verbal communication with others, so look for designs with a speaking diaphragm or features for communicating electronically. Workers may need some time to get used to wearing a helmet in the beginning.

Educate Workers on the Dangers of Inhaling Welding Fumes

To make sure everyone is on the same page, educate all of your workers of the dangers of inhaling welding fumes – whether or not they will actually be doing any on-site welding. Keep all workers updated on the type of metals they are working with and the potential dangers present in the workplace. Workers who are not welding should steer clear of areas used by welders.

It's also important to educate workers on how to recognize the symptoms of a harmful exposure. More often than not, the initial symptoms are quite mild, and as a result, go unnoticed for long periods of time. Common symptoms include irritation to the eyes, coughing, nausea or even headaches. Recognizing the symptoms and getting the appropriate treatment can prevent conditions from worsening.

Conclusion

Welding fume exposure is not a joke, and can have serious consequences. Make sure you do your part as an employer to limit the dangers in the workplace environment to keep your workers safe and to limit the amount of liability you have should anything unfortunate happen. Keep detailed records regarding the amount of effort you have put into ensuring the safety of your workers, as you may need to use it as evidence to prove you have been diligent in your duties. For more information about welding safely, contact a company like Suburban Welding & Steel LLC.