1. Welding Fume Hazards & Controls Presented by: Stu Bailey & Mike Clark

2. Evaluation

3. 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

4. Control Methods

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Questions

13. Welding Fume Health Effects Disorders and Symptoms

14. Aluminum  Has shown increases in dementia  Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis  Parkinsons dementia  Alzheimers (speculation)

15. 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

16. Cadmium  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  Released enzymes from damaged cells in lungs results in irreversible damage

17. 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

18. Cobalt  Asthma  Cumulative lung changes  dermatitis

19. Copper  Eye nose and throat irritation  Metal fume fever  Acute lung damage – edema  Eye, upper respiratory tract irritation

20. Iron  Siderosis – fibrosis of the lungs caused by iron oxide exposure  Disturbances in lung function  Diabetes mellitus

21. Magnesium  Metal fume fever – chills, fever, muscle aches

22. Manganese  Manganism (manganese encephelopathy) similar to Parkinson’s  Symptoms are irritability, difficulty in walking, speech disturbances  Compulsive behaviors – running, fighting, singing  Liver cirrhosis

23. Nickel  Respiratory tract carcinogen – lung and nasal cancer  Nickel carbonyl - formed by combining nickel fumes and carbon monoxide – is extremely toxic

24. 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

25. Vanadium  Skin and eye irritant  Gastrointestinal distress, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cardiac palpitation, tremor, nervous depression, and kidney damage.

26. Zinc  Metal fume fever