Welding Fumes

What Are Welding Fumes ? Health Hazards MSHA Regulations Sampling Methods Controls

Welding Fumes

What Are Welding Fumes ? Health Hazards MSHA Regulations Sampling Methods Controls

What Are Welding Fumes ?

Welding Causes Solid Metal To Vaporize As Vaporized Metal Cools, It Condenses

To Reform As Solid Particles - FUMEFUME Fumes Are Very Small Particles - -

Usually Much Smaller Than Dust Dust Usually Larger Than 1 Micron Fumes Can Be As Small As 1/1,000 Micron

Unless Captured And Removed, Fumes Remain Suspended In Air Indefinitely

Composition of Welding Fumes Composition Varies Depending On:

Material Being Welded Welding Process, Rod, Electrode Type Coatings On Material, Rod, Electrode

Typical Welding Fume Constituents: Aluminum, Cadmium, Chromium, Iron, Moly Cobalt, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Tin, Lead Nickel, Arsenic, Mercury, Vanadium, Beryllium, Magnesium, Titanium,

May Be Metal or Oxide

Welding Fumes

What Are Welding Fumes ? Health Hazards MSHA Regulations Sampling Methods Controls

Exposure Primarily By Inhalation

Exposure Primarily By Inhalation Fumes Are 100% Respirable

Exposure Primarily By Inhalation Fumes Are 100% Respirable What Does “Respirable” Mean ?

Exposure Primarily By Inhalation Fumes Are 100% Respirable What Does “Respirable” Mean ?

How Do You Know What You Are Being Exposed To ? Hazards ? Supplier Or Equipment Manufacturer Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Assume Paint Contains Lead Assume Corrosion Resistant Coatings

Contain Zinc Or Cadmium Assume Wear Materials Contain

Manganese Assume High Strength Steel Contains

Chrome, Manganese, Moly, Nickel

Welding Fume Toxicity

Kidney Nervous Liver GI Lung

Aluminum X X

Beryllium X

Cadmium X X X X

Chromium X X X X

Cobalt X X X

Copper X X

Iron X X X X

Lead X X X

Manganese X X

Nickel X X

Zinc X X

Welding Fume Toxicity

Acute Toxicity Exposure To High Concentration Over

Relatively Short Time Symptoms Appear Relatively Quickly

After Exposure

Chronic Toxicity Exposure To Lower Concentration

Over Long Time (Months, Years) Symptoms Appear Long After Initial

Exposure

Welding Fume Toxicity

Exposure Usually Involves More Than One Metal Toxic Effects May Be AdditiveAdditive

Examples Blood - Manganese and Lead CNS - Manganese and Lead Kidney - Lead and Cadmium Respiratory System - Magnesium,

Manganese, Copper, and Zinc

Welding Fume Toxicity

Metal Fume Fever Symptoms Are Fever, Chills, Shaking Symptoms Appear 4-12 Hrs After Exp. Recovery Usually Within 1 Day Usually Associated With Brief High

Inhalation Exposure To Zinc, But Magnesium & Copper Also May Cause

Daily Exposure May Confer Immunity Symptoms May Return If Exposure

Interrupted (3-Day Weekend)

Welding Fume Toxicity Welding Fumes Can Cause Cancer

Arsenic (Lung, Lymphatic) Beryllium (Lung) Cadmium (Prostatic and Lung) Chromium (Lung) Nickel (Lung)

Welders May Also Be Exposed To: Silica, Asbestos, Ozone Thermal Decomposition of Paint, Flux,

Electrode Coatings (CO, CO2, NO, NO2, HCN, COCl2, Fluoride Gases, Smoke, Etc.)

Welding Fumes

What Are Welding Fumes ? Health Hazards MSHA Regulations Sampling Methods Controls

MSHA Regulations § 56/57.5001§ 56/57.5001 Exposure Limits

§56/57.5002§56/57.5002 Monitoring

§56/57.5005§56/57.5005 Controls

§56/57.14213(b)§56/57.14213(b) Ventilation

§56/57.20011§56/57.20011 Barricades, Warnings

Part 46 and Part 48 Part 46 and Part 48 Training

MSHA Regulations

§ 56/57.5001§ 56/57.5001 Establishes Exposure Limits For Airborne Contaminants TWA8 And Ceiling Limits Listed In

1973 ACGIH Booklet of ThresholdLimit Values (TLV’s)

TWA8 Time Weighted Average For 8 Hrs Ceiling Limits Cannot Be Exceeded For

Any Length Of Time ACGIH 1973 TLV Booklet References

1968 “PA Rules” For Short Term Limits

MSHA Regulations

§56/57.5002§56/57.5002 Dust, Gas, Mist, And Fume Surveys Shall Be Conducted As Frequently As Necessary To Determine The Adequacy Of Control Measures

§56/57.5005§56/57.5005 Control of Harmful Airborne Contaminants Shall Be, Insofar As Feasible, By Engineering Controls Respirators Permitted Under Certain

Circumstances

MSHA Regulations

§56/57.14213(b)§56/57.14213(b) All Welding Operations Shall Be Well Ventilated

§56/57.20011§56/57.20011 Areas Where Health or Safety Hazards Exist That Are Not Immediately Obvious Shall Be Barricaded Or Warning Signs Posted

Part 46 and Part 48 Part 46 and Part 48 Training

Welding Fumes

What Are Welding Fumes ? Health Hazards MSHA Regulations Sampling Methods Controls

Sampling Methods For Compliance With §56/57.5001§56/57.5001 And

§56/57.5002§56/57.5002 Full Shift Or Short Term

Sampling Methods For Compliance With §56/57.5001§56/57.5001 And

§56/57.5002§56/57.5002 Full Shift Or Short Term Sample Pump, Pump Calibrator, Filters

Sampling Methods For Compliance With §56/57.5001§56/57.5001 And

§56/57.5002§56/57.5002 Full Shift Or Short Term Sample Pump, Pump Calibrator, Filters

Place Filter In Breathing Zone Under Hood

Sampling Methods For Compliance With §56/57.5001§56/57.5001 And

§56/57.5002§56/57.5002 Full Shift Or Short Term Sample Pump, Pump Calibrator, Filters

Place Filter In Breathing Zone Under Hood Pump Draws Air Over Filter; Contaminants

Captured On Filter

Sampling Methods

Analytic Lab Determines Weights Of Individual Contaminants On Filter

Weights Converted To Concentrations

Sampling Methods

Analytic Lab Determines Weights Of Individual Contaminants On Filter

Weights Converted To Concentrations

Measured Concentration Compared To Established Exposure Limit Measured Less Than Limit - - No Action Req’d Measured Over Limit - - Implement Controls

Welding Fumes

What Are Welding Fumes ? Health Hazards MSHA Regulations Sampling Methods Controls

Controls (§56/57.5005)

Feasible Engineering Controls Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE Allowed As Means Of ComplianceAs Means Of Compliance Only In Limited SituationsWhere Feasible Engineering Controls Do

Not ExistWhile Installing Engr. ControlsOccasional Entry Into Hazardous

Atmosphere For Maintenance

Engineering Controls General Ventilation

Natural or Mechanically Induced (Fans) Airflow pushed Or Pulled Over Work Area That Dilutes and Carries Away Contaminants

General Ventilation Outdoors - Wind Indoors

Open Shop Doors/Windows Fans: Fixed - Roof, Walls, Windows Fans: Portable Blow Fresh Air Into Work Area, But Don’t Blow

Fumes Into Welder’s Breathing Zone Need Provision For “Make Up” Air

Engineering Controls Local Exhaust Ventilation

Captures and Removes Airborne Contaminants Before They Escape Into Workplace Air

Local Exhaust Always Preferred For Toxic Airborne Contaminants

Local Exhaust Ventilation Capture Hood & Fixed Duct System

Local Exhaust Ventilation Portable “Fume Eliminator”

Local Exhaust Ventilation Down Draft Table

Respiratory Protection Air Purifying Or Supplied Air

May Be Integral With Welding Hood

NIOSH Part 84 Approved For Fumes

Welder’s PoweredAir PurifyingRespirator(PAPR)

Half-Mask CartridgeRespirator

Supplied-AirRespirator

Respiratory Protection Air Purifying Or Supplied Air

May Be Integral With Welding Hood

NIOSH Part 84 Approved For Fumes Respirator Use Must Include Implementation

of Respiratory Protection Program (See ANSI Z88.2-1969) Written Procedures on Selection and Use Respirator Training and Fit Testing Respirator Inspection, Cleaning, Storage Workplace Surveillance Medical Evaluation Recommended

Thank You