Welding Risk
Kagan McDonald
Mrs. Wilmott
SAE 2nd
10/1/13
Welding Risk and Safety Precautions Welding is a really good blue collar job that pays well, but has its ups and downs. Welders have to deal with hazardous welding fumes that can affect their health in numerous ways. There are several different types of welding fumes and mixtures that a welder can inhale while performing a welding task. A welder’s risk of getting sick from welding depends on the different types of metals being welded and the amount of time a welder is exposed to the fumes that are being created. There are many compositions of welding fumes.
Different mixtures of fumes can form from materials that are on metal like protective coatings that prevent rust such as paint, zinc, …show more content…
grease, and oils. These compounds in themselves have certain reactions that allow small particles to become airborne thus allowing the particles to be inhaled by a welder. According to OSHA “Lead fumes are the worse fume a welder has to deal with, it is also the most common mixture in welding fumes.”(OSHA)
Lead fumes created by welding are some of the worst fumes that a welder could allow into their body. Lead fumes that are a result from welding are caused by lead-based paints, solder, brass and bronze alloys, and protective coating on steel that keeps the metal from corrosion. “Welding fumes that have lead in their composition are the worst type of fumes to inhale.”(OSHA) Lead fumes have been known to cause very serious health problems. Some of the many health risk are lead poisoning and breaking down of the central nervous system, kidneys, digestive system, and mental capacity. Although, lead fumes are really bad most welders who don’t take all proper safety precautions only experience minor symptoms. Some of the minor symptoms include headaches, sore muscles and joints, to stomach cramps, and nausea. Chromium for example is a common fume that a welder has to deal with. “Chromium comes from most stainless-steel and high-alloy materials, and welding rods.”(OSHA) Chromium has symptoms just like all welding fumes but, these symptoms are not near as serious as lead fume symptoms. Chromium’s only serious hazardous is that it may cause lung cancer if your exposed to the fumes for really long periods of times. Otherwise chromium’s only known symptoms are skin irritation, carcinogens, and sometimes even asthma.
Nickel welding fumes have very little effects on the human body. Nickel fumes are formed by Stainless steel, welding rods, plated steel, and other high-alloy materials. Nickel causes irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and nausea. Nickel fumes are very common for a welder that uses the TIG process of welding. Aluminum fumes are a little more serious but, still not as bad as lead. Aluminum has been known to cause respiratory irritation and metal fever. The aluminum fumes are created when the gases used to fuse the metal together are mixed with materials that are coated on the metal to prevent corrosion. Copper fumes are just like nickel fumes in the sense of the effects that the fumes do to your body. Copper fumes cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and nausea. Copper like many other fumes is most of the time in the protective coating used to prevent corrosion. Copper fumes are never in a solid form due to copper being very valuable. Copper is mixed into paints and coating to prevent thief.
There are many compositions of fumes that can form to due to different reactions caused by protective coatings, paints, grease, and oils. Depending on the composition some of these fumes can be more deadly that lead. Some fumes that are rare and have minor side effects are molybdenum, beryllium, and cadmium oxides. Although these fumes can be dangerous most welders that take proper safety precautions don’t experience the side effects associated with the fumes involved. There are many precautions involved with welding but not all of the safety precautions have to do with the fumes.
Before a welder should ever strike an arc he or she should prep the material being welded. He or she should remove all protective coatings such as paint by grinding the material to a smooth finish. Even, after a welder removes the surface coatings he or she is still not ready to turn and burn. A welder needs to decide if there surrounds are large enough so fumes can’t build up. If a welder is outside in a large environment they are normally safe as long as they are downwind from the fumes. If a welder is in a confined environment he or she should ventilation to withdraw any fumes.
Although there are many risk involved in welding there are also many safety requirements that employers require welders to follow in order to protect the company as well as the employee. According to OSHA regulations, “Every employer must follow safety guidelines in order to protect its employees to the fullest standards.”(OSHA) OSHA provides safety guidelines that employers must follow. If companies don’t follow these guidelines OSHA has to right to fine that company or shut the company down until the proper safety precautions are put into place. When these guidelines are in place and everything is properly running employees have less risk of getting injured or killed on the jobsite. OSHA is just one of many programs in affect that helps reduced injuries in the work environment. Another safety program in affect in the work field is NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research). “Their mission is to build a safe, productive and sustainable workforce of craft professionals.”(NCCER) Some companies require employees to take NCCER classes simply because it teaches basic safety knowledge. Even some companies that don’t require NCCER give bonuses if you’re a NCCER card holder. These bonuses are mostly higher starting wage and more opportunity to move up in the company. Although NCCER teaches safety it only teaches basic safety in the work environment. All trades have different risks that workers have to abide by. Welders have to be aware of their surrounds while working because they can’t see what’s happening with their welding hood down. They are more subject to injury because if something where to happen they can’t see to get out the way. Most companies hire a welder’s helper to watch for potential hazards that could injury or possibly kill the welder. Welders helpers are often pay a decent salary and it is basically an internship because they learn the processes and procedures of welding.
Welders must beware of things like fumes building up in confined spaces.
Ventilation is a major factor when welders are in confined spaces. Ventilation exhausts the fumes into the open where it will not harm people. Welders must also worry about electrocution. Any person who has welded for some time knows that it doesn’t take much to get shocked all it takes is for your body to ground out on the metal that is being welding. A welder can get grounded to metal easily if it is raining or the metal is wet and you have exposed skin touching the item being welded.
Welders have many dangers that they face on a day to day bases. They have to worry about fumes, electrocution, not being able to see while working, and many others. A lot of people are turned away by the dangers they much face. Although OSHA will not ever be able to always prevent an accident in the work force they have been able to prevent future ones that could have injured 1000s.
Welding is a good occupation for anybody wanting to work with their hands. A welder faces many risks but if he or she takes the proper safety precautions the reward is far better than the risk. So in conclusion a jobs risk should not be a downfall for someone wanting to be in the occupation. If you take full measures to protect yourself you will succeed in this
occupation.
Works cited
"CPWR Hazard Alert: Welding Fumes and Gases." ELCOSH :. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.
"Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for Welding Fumes." Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for Welding Fumes. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.
"Health Risks - Welding Fumes." - Plymovent. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Aug. 2010. Web. 21 May 2013.
"Common Menu Bar Links." Welding. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.
Korkosz,jon. Personal Interview. 15 July 2013.
Mrs. Wilmott
SAE 2nd
10/1/13
Welding Risk and Safety Precautions Welding is a really good blue collar job that pays well, but has its ups and downs. Welders have to deal with hazardous welding fumes that can affect their health in numerous ways. There are several different types of welding fumes and mixtures that a welder can inhale while performing a welding task. A welder’s risk of getting sick from welding depends on the different types of metals being welded and the amount of time a welder is exposed to the fumes that are being created. There are many compositions of welding fumes.
Different mixtures of fumes can form from materials that are on metal like protective coatings that prevent rust such as paint, zinc, …show more content…
grease, and oils. These compounds in themselves have certain reactions that allow small particles to become airborne thus allowing the particles to be inhaled by a welder. According to OSHA “Lead fumes are the worse fume a welder has to deal with, it is also the most common mixture in welding fumes.”(OSHA)
Lead fumes created by welding are some of the worst fumes that a welder could allow into their body. Lead fumes that are a result from welding are caused by lead-based paints, solder, brass and bronze alloys, and protective coating on steel that keeps the metal from corrosion. “Welding fumes that have lead in their composition are the worst type of fumes to inhale.”(OSHA) Lead fumes have been known to cause very serious health problems. Some of the many health risk are lead poisoning and breaking down of the central nervous system, kidneys, digestive system, and mental capacity. Although, lead fumes are really bad most welders who don’t take all proper safety precautions only experience minor symptoms. Some of the minor symptoms include headaches, sore muscles and joints, to stomach cramps, and nausea. Chromium for example is a common fume that a welder has to deal with. “Chromium comes from most stainless-steel and high-alloy materials, and welding rods.”(OSHA) Chromium has symptoms just like all welding fumes but, these symptoms are not near as serious as lead fume symptoms. Chromium’s only serious hazardous is that it may cause lung cancer if your exposed to the fumes for really long periods of times. Otherwise chromium’s only known symptoms are skin irritation, carcinogens, and sometimes even asthma.
Nickel welding fumes have very little effects on the human body. Nickel fumes are formed by Stainless steel, welding rods, plated steel, and other high-alloy materials. Nickel causes irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and nausea. Nickel fumes are very common for a welder that uses the TIG process of welding. Aluminum fumes are a little more serious but, still not as bad as lead. Aluminum has been known to cause respiratory irritation and metal fever. The aluminum fumes are created when the gases used to fuse the metal together are mixed with materials that are coated on the metal to prevent corrosion. Copper fumes are just like nickel fumes in the sense of the effects that the fumes do to your body. Copper fumes cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and nausea. Copper like many other fumes is most of the time in the protective coating used to prevent corrosion. Copper fumes are never in a solid form due to copper being very valuable. Copper is mixed into paints and coating to prevent thief.
There are many compositions of fumes that can form to due to different reactions caused by protective coatings, paints, grease, and oils. Depending on the composition some of these fumes can be more deadly that lead. Some fumes that are rare and have minor side effects are molybdenum, beryllium, and cadmium oxides. Although these fumes can be dangerous most welders that take proper safety precautions don’t experience the side effects associated with the fumes involved. There are many precautions involved with welding but not all of the safety precautions have to do with the fumes.
Before a welder should ever strike an arc he or she should prep the material being welded. He or she should remove all protective coatings such as paint by grinding the material to a smooth finish. Even, after a welder removes the surface coatings he or she is still not ready to turn and burn. A welder needs to decide if there surrounds are large enough so fumes can’t build up. If a welder is outside in a large environment they are normally safe as long as they are downwind from the fumes. If a welder is in a confined environment he or she should ventilation to withdraw any fumes.
Although there are many risk involved in welding there are also many safety requirements that employers require welders to follow in order to protect the company as well as the employee. According to OSHA regulations, “Every employer must follow safety guidelines in order to protect its employees to the fullest standards.”(OSHA) OSHA provides safety guidelines that employers must follow. If companies don’t follow these guidelines OSHA has to right to fine that company or shut the company down until the proper safety precautions are put into place. When these guidelines are in place and everything is properly running employees have less risk of getting injured or killed on the jobsite. OSHA is just one of many programs in affect that helps reduced injuries in the work environment. Another safety program in affect in the work field is NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research). “Their mission is to build a safe, productive and sustainable workforce of craft professionals.”(NCCER) Some companies require employees to take NCCER classes simply because it teaches basic safety knowledge. Even some companies that don’t require NCCER give bonuses if you’re a NCCER card holder. These bonuses are mostly higher starting wage and more opportunity to move up in the company. Although NCCER teaches safety it only teaches basic safety in the work environment. All trades have different risks that workers have to abide by. Welders have to be aware of their surrounds while working because they can’t see what’s happening with their welding hood down. They are more subject to injury because if something where to happen they can’t see to get out the way. Most companies hire a welder’s helper to watch for potential hazards that could injury or possibly kill the welder. Welders helpers are often pay a decent salary and it is basically an internship because they learn the processes and procedures of welding.
Welders must beware of things like fumes building up in confined spaces.
Ventilation is a major factor when welders are in confined spaces. Ventilation exhausts the fumes into the open where it will not harm people. Welders must also worry about electrocution. Any person who has welded for some time knows that it doesn’t take much to get shocked all it takes is for your body to ground out on the metal that is being welding. A welder can get grounded to metal easily if it is raining or the metal is wet and you have exposed skin touching the item being welded.
Welders have many dangers that they face on a day to day bases. They have to worry about fumes, electrocution, not being able to see while working, and many others. A lot of people are turned away by the dangers they much face. Although OSHA will not ever be able to always prevent an accident in the work force they have been able to prevent future ones that could have injured 1000s.
Welding is a good occupation for anybody wanting to work with their hands. A welder faces many risks but if he or she takes the proper safety precautions the reward is far better than the risk. So in conclusion a jobs risk should not be a downfall for someone wanting to be in the occupation. If you take full measures to protect yourself you will succeed in this
occupation.
Works cited
"CPWR Hazard Alert: Welding Fumes and Gases." ELCOSH :. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.
"Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for Welding Fumes." Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for Welding Fumes. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.
"Health Risks - Welding Fumes." - Plymovent. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Aug. 2010. Web. 21 May 2013.
"Common Menu Bar Links." Welding. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.
Korkosz,jon. Personal Interview. 15 July 2013.