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

How Big Is A Micron ?

How Big Is A Micron ? Head of Pin

1/32 Inch

How Big Is A Micron ? 20 Microns Head of Pin

1/32 Inch

Size Comparison of Small Particles

m
Washed Foundry Sand 200 to 2,000 Plant Spores 10.0 to 40 Red Blood Cells 7 Cement Dust 1.0 to 10 Bacteria 1/10 to 10 Tobacco Smoke 1/100 to 1/2 Metal Fumes 1/1,000 to 1.0

Composition of Welding Fumes

Composition Varies Depending On:

Material Being Welded Welding Process, Rod, Electrode Type Obtain MSDS From Manufacturer Aluminum, Cadmium, Chromium, Iron, Moly Cobalt, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Tin, Lead Nickel, Arsenic, Mercury, Vanadium, Beryllium, Magnesium, Titanium,

Typical Welding Fume Constituents:

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 ?

Welding Fume Toxicity

Acute Toxicity
Exposure

To High Concentration Over Relatively Short Time Symptoms Appear Relatively Quickly After Exposure Exposure To Lower Concentration Over Long Time (Months, Years) Symptoms Appear Long After Initial Exposure

Chronic Toxicity

Welding Fume Toxicity

Kidney Nervous Aluminum Beryllium Cadmium Chromium Cobalt Copper Iron Lead Manganese Nickel Zinc X X X X X X X X X X X X Liver GI Lung X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X

Welding Fume Toxicity

Exposure Usually Involves More Than One Metal

Toxic Effects May Be Additive Blood - Manganese and Lead CNS - Manganese and Lead Kidney - Lead and Cadmium Respiratory System - Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, and Zinc

Examples

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) Silica, Asbestos, Ozone Thermal Decomposition of Paint, Flux, Electrode Coatings (CO, CO2, NO, NO2, HCN, COCl2, Fluoride Gases, Smoke, Etc.)

Welders May Also Be Exposed To:

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

MSHA Regulations
56/57.5001 Establishes Exposure Limits For Airborne Contaminants

TWA8 And Ceiling Limits Listed In 1973 ACGIH Booklet of Threshold Limit Values (TLVs)
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

Exposure Limits For Common Welding Fumes

TWA8 Short Term Beryllium 2.0 g/m3 25.0 g/m3 Magnesium Oxide 10.0 mg/m3 20.0 mg/m3 Vanadium 50.0 g/m3 50.0 g/m3 Chromium 1.0 mg/m3 3.0 mg/m3 Manganese (C) 5.0 mg/m3 5.0 mg/m3 Nickel 1.0 mg/m3 3.0 mg/m3 Cobalt 100.0 g/m3 500.0 g/m3 Zinc Oxide 5.0 mg/m3 10.0 mg/m3

Milligrams or Micrograms Per Cubic Meter of Air mg

1 meter
or

1 meter

1 meter

1 milligram = 1/1,000 = 35/1,000,000 oz ggram 1 microgram = 1/1,000,000 gram = 35/1,000,000,000 oz

How Much is 100 g/m ?

3

100 g/m3 = 0.1 ounce per 1,000,000 ft3

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
Part 46 and Part 48 Training 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

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;

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 weight of contaminant volume of air

Sampling Methods
Analytic Lab Determines Weights Of Individual Contaminants On Filter Weights Converted To Concentrations weight of contaminant volume of air mg or g m3

Sampling Methods
Analytic Lab Determines Weights Of Individual Contaminants On Filter Weights Converted To Concentrations weight of contaminant volume of air mg or g m3

Measured Concentration Compared To Established Exposure Limit

Sampling Methods
Analytic Lab Determines Weights Of Individual Contaminants On Filter Weights Converted To Concentrations weight of contaminant volume of air mg or g m3

Measured Concentration Compared To Established Exposure Limit

Measured

Less Than Limit - - No Action Reqd

Sampling Methods
Analytic Lab Determines Weights Of Individual Contaminants On Filter Weights Converted To Concentrations weight of contaminant volume of air mg or g m3

Measured Concentration Compared To Established Exposure Limit

Measured Less Than Limit - - No Action Reqd 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

Natural or Mechanically Induced (Fans) Airflow Over Work Area That Dilutes and Carries Away Contaminants Captures and Removes Airborne Contaminants Before They Escape Into Workplace Air Local Exhaust Always Preferred For Toxic Airborne Contaminants

Local Exhaust Ventilation

General Ventilation
Outdoors - Wind Indoors

Open Shop Doors/Windows What Blows In, Must Blow Out Fixed - Roof, Walls, Windows Portable Blow Fresh Air Into Work Area, But Dont Blow Fumes Into Welders Breathing Zone Push-Pull Fan Arrangements Need Provision For Make Up Air

Fans

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Capture Hood & Fixed Duct System

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Portable Fume Eliminator

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Down Draft Table

Local Exhaust Ventilation

System Must Have Adequate Air Velocity To Draw In Fume Particles Minimum Capture Velocity 100 ft/min Better To Design For 200 ft/min May Need Provision For Make Up Air 10 Round Duct Drawing 200 ft/min Air Volume Removed From Work Area Is 110 cfm

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Must Position Hood Correctly

Air Velocity Drops Rapidly With Distance Away From Hood Opening

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Must Position Hood Correctly

Air Velocity Drops Rapidly With Distance Away From Hood Opening
Hood Opening 10 inches Airflow 10 200 120 60

15

Air Velocity (ft/min)

Respiratory Protection
Air Purifying Or Supplied Air

May Be Integral With Welding Hood

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

Welders Powered Air Purifying Respirator Half-Mask Cartridge (PAPR) Respirator

Supplied-Air Respirator

Thank You