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 - FUME
 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 Additive
 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 Exposure Limits
§56/57.5002 Monitoring
§56/57.5005 Controls
§56/57.14213(b) Ventilation
§56/57.20011 Barricades, Warnings
Part 46 and Part 48 Training
MSHA Regulations
§ 56/57.5001 Establishes Exposure
Limits For Airborne Contaminants
 TWA And Ceiling Limits Listed In
8
1973 ACGIH Booklet of Threshold
Limit Values (TLV’s)
 TWA Time Weighted Average For 8 Hrs
8
 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 Dust, Gas, Mist, And Fume
Surveys Shall Be Conducted As
Frequently As Necessary To Determine
The Adequacy Of Control Measures

§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) All Welding
Operations Shall Be Well Ventilated

§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 Training

 Welding Fumes

 What Are Welding Fumes ?

 Health Hazards
 MSHA Regulations
 Sampling Methods
 Controls
Sampling Methods
 For Compliance With §56/57.5001 And
§56/57.5002
 Full Shift Or Short Term
Sampling Methods
 For Compliance With §56/57.5001 And
§56/57.5002
 Full Shift Or Short Term
 Sample Pump, Pump Calibrator, Filters
Sampling Methods
 For Compliance With §56/57.5001 And
§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 And
§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 Compliance Only
In Limited Situations
 Where Feasible Engineering Controls Do
Not Exist
 While Installing Engr. Controls
 Occasional Entry Into Hazardous
Atmosphere For Maintenance
Engineering Controls
 General Ventilation
 Naturalor 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 Powered
Air Purifying
Respirator Half-Mask Cartridge Supplied-Air
(PAPR) Respirator Respirator
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