Welding Fumes....latest

[8ob]

The reports a bit confusing, its identified the compounds molybdenum trioxide and indium tin oxide as carcinogenic but no mention of any gases. If its just the compounds a filtered mask would suffice , I am pretty sure there must be some nasty gasses floating about especially when welding through oil preservatives and paints I think air fed is almost a must have..

Bob

 

[RustyBus]

Well, today we received notice of the HSE changing their stance on mild steel welding:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulleti...ampaign=welding-alert&utm_content=ebul-link-1
Seems that businesses will possibly have some improvements to make.

 

[Rocketman]

Well, today we received notice of the HSE changing their stance on mild steel welding:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulleti...ampaign=welding-alert&utm_content=ebul-link-1
Seems that businesses will possibly have some improvements to make.

Possibly being the key. My brother in law until recently was tig welding ali all day long the H&S was appalling. He complained often and the best they would offer is a fan to clear the smoke. No actual respiration masks were offered. With companies like that what chance have you got.

 

[owas]

The reports a bit confusing, its identified the compounds molybdenum trioxide and indium tin oxide as carcinogenic but no mention of any gases. If its just the compounds a filtered mask would suffice , I am pretty sure there must be some nasty gasses floating about especially when welding through oil preservatives and paints I think air fed is almost a must have..

Bob

This is one of the reasons why I hated welding Chinese stuff, god knows what is in the oil, air fed was a minimum .. local extraction too.

 

[Brad93]

Just see the H&M’s announcement. 3M & the like will be rubbing their hands together.

 

[Browser]

Possibly being the key. My brother in law until recently was tig welding ali all day long the H&S was appalling. He complained often and the best they would offer is a fan to clear the smoke. No actual respiration masks were offered. With companies like that what chance have you got.

And one assumes if you had complained formally or dared to threaten them with reportin them to the HSE you'd have been out of the door faster than you can blink This to me is the root of the problem with H&S law, it all works very well if, when caught/reported/investigated the employers in question hold their hands up Dixon Of Dock Green-style and say "awright, you caught me, it's a fair cop guv, I'll 'ave ter change me ways" which is of course what happens every time.........................

 

[Browser]

Daft question, because I haven't/don't yet use the process, but does TIG produce fume? Whenever I've watched guys at work TIGging there seems to be no fume at all, and whilst I understand the need for ventillation to counter the introduction of the inert shield gas in a confined space, is there the need to control fume in the same way as, for instance, MIG or MMA? This is just so that I know for any upcoming maintenance at work where we bring in contractors so I can make sure their Risk Assessments are 'suitable and sufficient'.

 

[Gareth J]

Personally, I think, for hobbyists, (Lev rules aside for a moment) the money and cost of upkeep for decent airfed stuff would be better spent on extraction at source. Blowers and flex hose is relatively cheap and if you've decided that it must be welded, far better to extract it at source rather than task what ever PPE you go for with cleaning up a dense fog.

My extraction hose has been transformative. Should never weld indoors without one in my opinion!

I went to the steel fabricators I used to work for a few weeks ago and it was horrible.

Unfortunately, grinding smut is still an issue.

 

[JLP]

Daft question, because I haven't/don't yet use the process, but does TIG produce fume? Whenever I've watched guys at work TIGging there seems to be no fume at all, and whilst I understand the need for ventillation to counter the introduction of the inert shield gas in a confined space, is there the need to control fume in the same way as, for instance, MIG or MMA? This is just so that I know for any upcoming maintenance at work where we bring in contractors so I can make sure their Risk Assessments are 'suitable and sufficient'.

There are still fumes with TIG - I am not up to speed on the exacts of it as I never got into the H&S side, but you can see the fumes very easy when welding mild steel, stainless less so and I personally struggle to see it on Alu but can definitely feel and taste the ozone that's given off

 

[Parm]

Daft question, because I haven't/don't yet use the process, but does TIG produce fume? Whenever I've watched guys at work TIGging there seems to be no fume at all, and whilst I understand the need for ventillation to counter the introduction of the inert shield gas in a confined space, is there the need to control fume in the same way as, for instance, MIG or MMA? This is just so that I know for any upcoming maintenance at work where we bring in contractors so I can make sure their Risk Assessments are 'suitable and sufficient'.

Welding Stainless Steel produces chromium in the fume, it’s a dangerous to breath it it

 

[TechnicAl]

Because TIG uses pure Argon there are little of no volatiles to react so the fumes are less toxic and in general the current is low......you can get stick electrodes classed as low fume because they contain lower volatiles and use lower currents

What you do get with TIG is Ozone because the UV reacts with Oxygen and you get O3

Im not upto date with Cr but it used to be Cr6 that was the bad one. I dont think TIG produces Cr6 but I cant remember.....google it

 

[TechnicAl]

The reports a bit confusing, its identified the compounds molybdenum trioxide and indium tin oxide as carcinogenic but no mention of any gases. If its just the compounds a filtered mask would suffice , I am pretty sure there must be some nasty gasses floating about especially when welding through oil preservatives and paints I think air fed is almost a must have..

Bob

Its particulate fume, so it depends on the size of the particles, some masks dont do small particles........those that do resemble a plastic bag....ie suffocate.....so yes air fed but even then with the correct (clean) filter

 

[TechnicAl]

http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulleti...aign=welding-alert&utm_content=home-page-news

 

[TechnicAl]

http://www.hse.gov.uk/welding/fume-welding.htm

 

[Tom Orrow L]

This announcement has made the industry go cuckoo for extraction systens, been none stop with them since we got in first thing this morning. Air feds, LEV and On torch extraction. Its nice to se some companies making the investment to keep their chaps safe though.

 

[AdrianH]

I am only a hobby person so shoot me down if you must, but I was surprised at the position of Plasma cutting being just above TIG.

Is that because the particulates will be large, just wondering as it used to cover my workshop in lots of crap before I used a water tray.

Adrian

 

[TechnicAl]

This announcement has made the industry go cuckoo for extraction systens, been none stop with them since we got in first thing this morning. Air feds, LEV and On torch extraction. Its nice to se some companies making the investment to keep their chaps safe though.

Good....its about time some of them took notice of the potential issues

 

[Browser]

Good....its about time some of them took notice of the potential issues

Isn't it just? As usual, only because they've been told to but sometimes fear of future litigation can be a good thing!

 

[TechnicAl]

Isn't it just? As usual, only because they've been told to but sometimes fear of future litigation can be a good thing!

I suspect its the Insurance Company thats the driving force.....H&S only seems to work when a potential loss of money is involved.

 

[Parm]

I suspect its the Insurance Company thats the driving force.....H&S only seems to work when a potential loss of money is involved.

not at all