Because welding processes often generate sparks, glares and fumes, a safe and nuisance-free workplace is of utmost importance.
Welders should take great care to ensure that both they and their co-workers are safe and avoid spreading dangerous welding fume throughout the facility. There are quite a number of guidelines one must adhere to in order for them and their colleagues to return home, safely, every day.
It is common sense to keep welding fumes in the breathing zone of a welder below a certain limit [1]. Personal protection, source extraction and good general ventilation are the essentials for completing a welding job as safely as possible. Everybody should realise that personal protection is as important if not more so at this time, as Covid-19 (or the “coronavirus”) continues to spread worldwide.
Plymovent is monitoring the situation regarding the COVID-19 virus closely and we continue our work ensuring we meet the needs of our customers, as well as provide for the health and safety of our employees, customers and local communities alike.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent agency in the United States entrusted with the mission of protecting human health and the environment. They dedicate themselves to topics as diverse as air, water and land, chemicals and toxics, waste and cleanup.
What is hexavalent chromium & how to act for best protection.
A recent case (early February 2019) of financial compensation for 800 workers who have been exposed to the hazardous hexavalent chromium in the workshop of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NedTrain-department) in Tilburg, the Netherlands, has again put the spotlight on the danger of this substance.
At-source extraction protects workers in the metal industry and prevents the accumulation of welding fumes, oil mist or grinding dust in the workspace. The use of flexible extraction arms is a good method of removing dangerous fumes and dust when working on small or medium sized objects. These arms can be positioned close to the work area to capture toxic fumes, dust particles and remains of molten metal at the source. Capturing fumes and dust at the source also prevents pollution from spreading over the premises, keeping not only machines and tools but also products and offices cleaner.
In previous blogs we have written about protection methods for welders, like extraction arms or hoods for local exhaust ventilation and welding helmets with PAPR units. When you provide your workers with protection equipment, you may think that you have taken the necessary steps to ensure their safety. But how can you be certain that the equipment is working as it should and your workers are not exposed to dangerous levels of carcinogenic fumes?
When metals are heated above their melting point, they vaporize and condense into welding fumes. Most people know that these welding fumes are unhealthy and dangerous. Although not everybody in the metal industry – and in other lines of work where welding is done – is fully aware of the dangers, most of them are familiar with local exhaust ventilation and personal protection equipment to minimize the health risks that are involved with welding.
Welding fumes and UV radiation from welding are now classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by the IARC.
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