Welding fume

Welding Fume Dealing with a carcinogen Graham Twigg MSc CFIOSH

Content Responding to HSE Safety Alert How do we respond to the HSE Safety Alert About the HSE Safety Alert Enforcement expectations of HSE Back to basics COSHH assessment Fume analysis and WELs Personal exposure monitoring Health surveillance Resources BOHS Breathe Freely HSE updated welding fume webpages HSE Go Home Healthy

Welding Fume – new problem? Phil the Welder – HSE video https://youtu.be/weUBTxzjrnc

HSE Safety Alert February 2019 Consequences: With immediate effect, there is a strengthening of HSE’s enforcement expectation for all welding fume, including mild steel welding; because general ventilation does not achieve the necessary control.

HSE Safety Alert Control of the cancer risk will require suitable engineering controls for all welding activities indoors e.g. Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV). Extraction will also control exposure to manganese, which is present in mild steel welding fume, which can cause neurological effects similar to Parkinson’s disease.

Welding Fume HSE go home healthy https://youtu.be/So_2mc06jXQ http://www.hse.gov.uk/gohomehealthy/

HSE Safety Alert Where LEV alone does not adequately control exposure, it should be supplemented by adequate and suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to protect against the residual fume.

HSE Safety Alert Regardless of duration, HSE will no longer accept any welding undertaken without any suitable exposure control measures in place, as there is no known level of safe exposure.

HSE Safety Alert Appropriate RPE should be provided for welding outdoors. You should ensure welders are suitably instructed and trained in the use of these controls https://www.healthyworkinglives.scot/resources/rpe-selector-tool/Pages/default.aspx

HSE Safety Alert Risk assessments should reflect the change in the expected control measures.

COSHH Assessment Review COSHH assessments are we doing this already? Can you use a welding technique that makes less fume?                                                                                                                                           COSHH Assessment Review COSHH assessments are we doing this already? Type of metal and consumable needs to be taken into account How competent are your welders? What are the exposure levels? Do your controls reduce adequately? Get it checked by competent person (Occupational Hygienist) to undertake personal exposure monitoring Fume component or generic welding fume WEL? EH40 guidance and calculation Do you require a health surveillance programme based on exposure levels? http://www.hse.gov.uk/welding/fume-welding.htm

COSHH Assessment Review COSHH assessments Suitable control measures must be applied, regardless of welding duration and including outdoors welding; The employer must ensure welders are suitably instructed and trained in the use of any exposure controls (e.g. LEV, RPE); All engineering controls should be correctly used, suitably maintained and subject to thorough examination and testing (if required under COSHH Regulation 9) and RPE must be subject to an RPE programme.

Welding Fume HSE COSHH Essentials

Resources Where to get additional support and information http://www.hse.gov.uk/welding/fume-facts.htm http://www.hse.gov.uk/gohomehealthy/lungs.htm

Resources Where to get additional support and information https://form.jotform.com/83172990681970

Resources Where to get additional support and information http://www.bohs.org/