Eurotech an authorized Agent of American Welding Society(AWS). We conduct AWS CWI Examination with documented training in INDIA and MIDDLE EAST. For More Information contact to Mr.Puneet Sharma E-mail: (aws.cwi.training@gmail.com)
1 False you risk cutting short your career if you forget to figure in the working environment. The gas produced to shield the weld site works just as well on you as it does on the weld itself. If you can not vent your work site you must used for forced air to circulate the site. May years in Naval ships working in close confines gave me a great love of open air shops. Yours in service James Acerra
Q:- In avoiding fumes during welding, the most important factor is:
Puneet SharmaWelding Training AWS International Agent at Eurotech ACS Pvt. Ltd.
(a) The type of base metal (b) The type of filter metal (c) The Type of welding process (d) The position of the welding machine (e) The position of the welder’s hand
I would hazard to say that the most important or one of the most important factors in avoiding fumes is the type of welding process. GTAW for example has very few fumes while GMAW or SMAW processes produce a lot of fumes. Another factor is the base and filler metals. But the absolute best way to avoid fumes from any welding process is having proper ventilation or an exhaust system to remove the fumes.
I agree with Gary. Ventilation and worker positioning can eliminate the hazard. However you have to do under the hood personal air sampling to prove that you are in compliance with action level requirements and have a body of evidence on record when the friends from DOL show up.
Prior to 2013, fume extraction, keeping your head out of the fumes. etc was effective. However now the very low level of Manganese fumes defined as acceptable by the ACGIH makes these methods questionable. Here is some history: when managing a welding R&D filler metal lab we started measuring fumes and the allowable TLV level for Mn fumes was 5 mg/m3. Easily met. The Mn TLV was steadily reduced to 0.2 mg/m3, much more difficult to meet, in fact many welders were at that level or higher. In 2013 the ACGIH lowered the allowable level to 0.02 mg/m3! To provide perspective on how low that is, Phosgene, the poison gas used in WW I, today has a TLV of 0.25 mg/m3! That is 10+ times higher than allowed for Mn! All steel contains Mn as an alloying element. In my opinion, the best choice is a PAPR helmet system. I've developed a solution to the excess heat issue they causes for welders.
When I was still a welder I swore by the 3M under-hood filtration mask. This compact mask provided adequate protection from the insidious fumes which cause those pesky black growths in your nose and mouth. The pink filters are specifically designed for metallic fumes.
In situations where adequate ventilation or respirators are unavailable, this mask was a fantastic solution for me. The mask was my go-to when doing any hot work with galvanized materials, anything with a high zinc content, or just about any other condition which could pose health risks due to inhaling fumes.
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Puneet Sharma likes thisThe gas produced to shield the weld site works just as well on you as it does on the weld itself.
If you can not vent your work site you must used for forced air to circulate the site.
May years in Naval ships working in close confines gave me a great love of open air shops.
Yours in service
James Acerra
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