There is no debating the vital role that welding plays in our lives. Despite its critical benefits, welding brings health risks that can be terminal.
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In the United States, over half a million workers are exposed to welding-related health and safety risks each year.
Welding protective gear safeguards employees from welding hazards. Welders are required to wear protective gear and have safety training.
Training typically involves inspecting welding equipment and ensuring workers understand safety precautions before welding.
This article will discuss the importance of wearing protective gear while welding.
Welding fumes constitute the primary health hazard in welding operations. Individuals performing manual metal arc (MMA) and metal inert gas (MIG) welding are at high risk.
The fumes produced from the welding wire or rod consist of fine particles of metal oxides.
The composition of these fumes depends on the metal used. Mild steel tends to generate a large volume of iron oxide with a small composition of manganese. Fumes from stainless steel are highly hazardous because of their high nickel and chromium VI oxide content.
Long-term exposure to manganese can deliver a lethal blow to your nervous system. Fortunately for welders, they have access to welding safety gear that can protect their neck, eyes, and face from these gases.
For head and face protection, welders are required to wear helmets and masks to prevent burns from molten metal or sparks. By wearing auto-darkening lenses and helmets, workers can prevent irreparable and immediate damage to their eyes.
Glasses are also vital welding safety gear, especially when dealing with scenarios that may be challenging in a helmet. Wearing safety glasses can be used for certain torch-cutting and plasma jobs.
At ETI School of Skilled Trades, we recommend the Miller Electric Shade 5.0 Welding Safety Glasses.
Respirators are another component of welding gear. This mask protects against harmful fumes. The zinc and magnesium emanating from heated metals can cause lung cancer, hearing loss, and asthma. When you are picking your welder gear, quality should be on your priority list.
This is because your hands, chest, and arms are in the direct line of molten slag and hot sparks. Welders can prevent burns by wearing a welding apron or a jacket with gloves.
Are you looking to develop your skills as a professional welder in an institution with state-of-the-art equipment and trained experts? ETI School of Skilled Trades has a welding program that will train you in this field. In just seven months, you can become a skilled welder.
Enroll at ETI today to get started on your future.
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It&#;s impossible to avoid the production of welding gases and dust particles when welding or grinding any metal. However, it is possible to dramatically reduce your exposure to harmful agents for a long and healthy welding career.
Read on to learn about the dangers of welding fumes and how respiratory masks can protect you from respiratory hazards.
Are you interested in learning more about welding face mask? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
The Dangers of Welding Fumes
Welding, cutting, and grinding metal creates metal dust particles and extremely harmful welding fumes. As you weld, the molten metal evaporates metal oxides mixed with the shielding gas and fumes from burned welding fluxes.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies welding fumes as Group 1 carcinogens, meaning that they are carcinogenic to humans without a doubt. Studies show that regular exposure to welding fumes can put welders at an increased risk of lung and kidney cancers. Besides cancer, long-term exposure to welding fumes can cause Parkinson&#;s disease, stomach ulcers, heart disease, reduced fertility, silicosis, siderosis, asthma, and nervous system damage.
Welding fumes can also produce immediate health issues like eye, throat, and nose irritation, nausea and dizziness, welding fume fever, pulmonary infections, and life-threatening asphyxiation.
The table below outlines just some of the most dangerous welding fume compounds, their source, and their adverse health effects. We strongly recommend wearing a respiratory mask when welding these materials, even if welding outdoors.
Some of the most dangerous fume compounds welders can be exposed to.
There are many other hazardous compounds you can be exposed to when welding: inexperienced welders or DIY enthusiasts may use brake cleaners to pre-clean a joint. However some brake cleaners contain compounds that form an extremely poisonous gas called phosgene when exposed to the welding arc.
Phosgene can induce severe damage to the lungs, skin, and eyes, and cause death, even in small quantities.
Ultraviolet radiation from the welding arc can also react with oxygen and nitrogen in the air to form ozone and nitrogen oxides, which are deadly when inhaled at large doses.
There are many other examples of just how easy it is to inhale something while welding that can cause immediate or chronic health hazards.
How Can Respiratory Masks Protect You?
Respiratory masks can filter out welding fumes and gases and significantly improve the inhaled air quality. However, when welding anything exotic (other than mild steel), you should know what metal you are welding, its coating type, and the electrode composition (flux + filler).
Depending on the welding mask, the welded material, and varying job conditions, you may need to use another filter type to get adequate protection.
The 3M series respirator is very comfortable to wear, thanks to the soft silicone face seal and proprietary 3M Cool Flow&#; technology. Alternatively, the 3M series respirator is slightly lighter, which could be a deciding factor for welders who weld all day. Both support the 3M GP2 filters and a wide variety of other filters from 3M for protection from specific hazards.
It&#;s essential to keep in mind that no filter protects you from every type of hazard. However, the 3M GP combined with the 3M or series breathing mask provides excellent protection for most welding jobs, and they are approved to AS/NZS standard for respiratory protective devices.
Need Additional Help with Welding Respiratory Protection?
If you need more advice in selecting the correct welding respirator and filter type, Alphaweld is here to help. To speak with our team, give us a call on (08) and our experts will gladly assist you.
* Nuisance levels are those below the Workplace Exposure Standard (WES).
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