How to protect against hazardous welding fumes

Transcription

1 How to protect against hazardous welding fumes Welders face a series of risks from dangerous substances that could mean they face time off work for illness or even early retirement. However, a good, safe working environment can be established that will limit sick leave and prevent early retirement. A good working environment will mean that the end product will be better and productivity higher. A successful business requires safe and decent working conditions. The following are needed to ensure a good working environment: 1. Workplace ventilation 2. Personal safety equipment 3. Correct usage of workplace ventilation and safety equipment 4. eneral ventilation 1

2 Workplace ventilation Extraction at source is the most effective way to collect and remove fumes. Choose the most effective solution for your workplace! Nederman has different solutions for getting rid of fumes and particles. Your choice depends on what you are going to use extraction for and how often you will use it. Solution Fume extraction directly at welding torch. The welding torch is easily connected to the right extraction unit for capturing most of the hazardous welding fumes. Advantages By having the extractor directly on the welding torch ensures that the extraction is always accessible and correctly positioned. Work becomes flexible and the capture rate is good. Fume extraction with different types of extractor arms. The arms are connected to a vacuum filter system that removes contaminants from the extracted air. The extraction arms are flexible, easy to position and are not in the way during work. There is no impact on the welding process. Capture rate is good. Mobile extraction / filter units. Mobile extractors collect welding fumes and particles at source. If welding work takes place at different locations, a mobile solution is the best choice. As with fixed installation, extraction arms are flexible, easy to position and not in the way during work. There is no impact on the welding process. IIndustrial welding and grinding table. The tables have integrated extraction of fumes, dust and other particles generated during welding, grinding, polishing and similar applications. This solution is suitable for fixed workplaces. The extraction takes place over a larger area, which means that you do not need to adjust the extraction point. Good capture rate. Extraction for welding robots. Extraction nozzles can be mounted directly on the welding machine, which protects sensitive electronics and the operators who oversees the facility. This solution is available in two variants: extractor mounted on the welding nozzle or a hood that is mounted above the robot. Both solutions provide a good capture rate. 2

3 Personal safety equipment While it is important that the welding workplace is designed to limit risks, it is just as important that welders use personal protective equipment. Respiratory protection must be used for all welding work, even shorter welding operations because the fumes may contain very high concentrations of hazardous substances. Respiratory protection. To make work as safe as possible, it is important that welders use respiratory protection during all welding, even shorter welding operations. The Swedish Work Environment Authority recommends that respiratory protection use either compressed air or a fan-feed. Welding visors. Welding visors should always be used to protect the eyes from exposure to harmful radiation, but also to protect against welding sparks. A simple and effective solution is a welding visor with an integrated respirator. Safety goggles. Safety goggles are needed if there is dust and other particles that can damage the eyes, for example during grinding and punching or if you work near welding and can be exposed to sparks. When welding you should use a visor in combination with breathing protection. Hearing protection. Earmuffs provide protection against loud noise and welding sparks. Welding is noisy, but grinding, punching and handling of materials also make a lot of noise. You should always wear ear protection when you are in the welding shop. The right clothes. When welding, there are splashes and slag particles that can damage unprotected skin and eyes. Additionally, radiation from the arc can cause irritation and burns on unprotected skin. The right clothing will protect against all this. Good shoes. During welding, you walk and stand for long periods. It is important to stand firmly and that the shoes protect your feet. Slipping when welding or dropping a heavy object could cause injury. 3

4 Use your equipment correctly Welding is a skill. If one thing goes wrong, everything can go wrong. Therefore, it is important to get everything right. To create a good working environment and high product quality, you should consider the following: Make sure that you always use the source extractor and that it is set correctly so that you get good ventilation. Always wear your respirator. Always wear your welding visor. Always use other personal protective equipment. Make sure you are working in a good working position. 4

5 General ventilation To create a good work environment in welding workshops, in addition to effective ventilation at the welding location, you also need good general ventilation to ventilate the building and captures pollutants from, for example, grinding and cutting. General ventilation supplies clean, cool air to the entire welding workshop and removes polluted and hot air. General ventilation should create a good climate without drafts and ensure that those working in the vicinity of welding and other dusty operations are not exposed to high levels of air pollution. 5

6 Risk summary Various methods are used in welding. But whatever one is used, there are risks associated with fire, fumes and radiation. The table below shows some of the risks associated with each welding method and for coated materials. Gas welding Exposure Effects or disease Nitrogen dioxide in confined spaces Carbon monoxide Pulmonary edema Suffocation Manual metal arc welding Exposure Effects or disease Stainless steel Hexavalent chromium Asthma, lung cancer, sperm quality Manganese steel Manganese Impact on the nervous system Low alloy steel Iron oxide Respiratory problems, heart disease Gas metal arc welding Exposure Effects or disease MIG, MAG and TIG Argon in confined spaces Suffocation MIG, aluminium Ozone Respiratory problems Aluminium Effect on nerve system MIG, MAG welding in low alloy steel Iron oxide Respiratory problems, heart disease Coated materials Exposure Effects or disease Lead-coated steel Lead Effects on nervous system, reproduction and the foetus Epoxy-coated steel Irritants Respiratory problems and asthma Galvanized steel Zinc Fever, muscle aches Polyurethane-coated steel Disocyanates Asthma Steel coated with epoxy ester-based chlorinated polymer coating Hydrochloric acid and other irritants Respiratory problems and asthma 6