HM Inspector of Health and Safety HSE update March 2019 Liz Hunter 020 3028 3369 HM Inspector of Health and Safety elizabeth.hunter@hse.gov.uk
Welding fume exposure: what’s changed? MILD STEEL WELDING FUME HAS BEEN RECLASSIFIED AS A CARCINOGEN *International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report 2017- division of WHO (cutting & burning not carcinogenic, but still high risk) ‘sufficient evidence in humans’ that welding fumes cause lung cancer and limited evidence for kidney cancer.*
Welding fume health effects Cancer of the lungs or kidneys – damage to DNA Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Asthma, pneumonia, impaired immune responses Neurological effects similar to Parkinson's disease Examples of toxic welding substances: PAHs, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone or the oxides produced by the metals copper, lead and zinc. Cancer agents include chrome (VI) & (III) compounds, nickel oxide or cobalt oxide. (UV radiation can cause rare eye cancers)
Human cost https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIaao_0Hk2o
Lung Cancer Symptoms
Control measures Prevention – off-site fabrication? Design? Fixed or mobile source capture LEV: use, maintenance & LOLER TET RPE (min P3A2): FFT, storage & maintenance Segregation Training & instructions Health surveillance & Health Records Good general ventilation (air flow)
Changes to HSE enforcement LEV is mandatory for all welding types RPE programme essential COSHH assessment reviews – controls must be ALARP Contractor RAMS review Training needs analysis Health surveillance & health records (as stainless) No lead in period, start now!
Positioning of LEV http://www.hse.gov.uk/welding/mobile-fume-extraction-hoods-3.htm
References http://www.hse.gov.uk/welding/fume-facts.htm http://www.hse.gov.uk/welding/videos.htm BOHS course: Certificate in Controlling Health Risks http://www.breathefreely.org.uk/courses-and-trainng.html Workplace Health Expert Committee https://webcommunities.hse.gov.uk/connect.ti/WHEC/grouphome Advice on LEV management http://www.hse.gov.uk/lev/faqs.htm https://www.cibse.org/Institute-of-Local-Exhaust-Ventilation-Engineers http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg408.pdf Welding LEV checklist https://safe-welding.com/extraction-arm-ten-facts-for-ideal-properties-when-extracting-welding-fumes/ http://www.badairday.info/docs/welding_fume_hazard_information_pack_june_2014.pdf http://www.hse.gov.uk/welding/fume-facts.htm
Fatal accident at Bridge of Don Crossing Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Limited was fined £600,000 at Aberdeen Sherriff Court on 25/2/19 CDM Regulation 13(1) Crushing injuries Immediate causes Underlying causes