Welding fumes are a complex mixture of hazardous chemicals produced during welding. Workers undertaking welding processes are at risk of exposure to welding fumes, however, other persons at the workplace may also be exposed to welding fumes.
The workplace exposure standard (WES) for welding fumes (not otherwise classified) has been reduced from 5 mg/m3 to 1 mg/m3.
Exposure standards provide airborne concentrations of a particular substance or mixture which must not be exceeded. Employers have a duty under Regulation 49 of the Work Health and Safety Regulations to ensure that no person at the workplace is exposed to a substance or mixture in an airborne concentration that exceeds the exposure standard for the substance or mixture. Safe Work Australia has recently amended its Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants to reflect the change.
Workers who are exposed to welding fumes can suffer a number of short-term and long-term health effects including irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes, respiratory irritation, pulmonary siderosis, lung and kidney cancer, adverse effects on the nervous system, asthma, emphysema and pre-disposition to pneumonia.
The risk to a welders’ health depends on the composition of the welding fume and their level of exposure. This is determined by:
- the composition and concentration of the welding fumes generated by the type of welding process used
- the duration and frequency of exposure (the arc time or the actual time spent welding)
- welders’ posture and head position relative to the welding fume
- location of the welding process e.g. indoors, outdoors, restricted or confined spaces
- the type of controls in place to prevent or reduce exposure to fumes, and their effectiveness
Employers must minimise exposure to welding carcinogens by eliminating, substituting or modifying their welding processes, using the hierarchy of controls.
- Eliminate, so far as is reasonably practicable, any exposure to welding fumes.
- If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, measures to minimise the risk must be used e.g. substituting a hazardous chemical with a less hazardous one, reducing the quantity of a hazardous chemical which is used, handled or stored at the workplace e.g. removing surface contaminants before carrying out welding will reduce fumes (or airborne contaminants)
- Isolating the source of exposure to the hazardous chemical e.g. welding in isolation booths away from others
- Using engineering control measures e.g. installing ventilation systems to capture or remove airborne contaminants.
- Implement administrative control measures e.g. procedures to handle hazardous chemicals safely
- PPEg. provide appropriate respiratory protective equipment. The protection provided by respiratory protective equipment (RPE) worn by a person can be only taken into account when determining compliance with Regulation 49, provided all reasonably practicable higher order controls in the hierarchy of controls have been implemented, and that the RPE is worn correctly.
Atmospheric monitoring must be carried out, by a competent person, such as an occupational hygienist, when employers are unsure if a relevant exposure standard is being exceeded, or where there may be a risk to health.
For further information on how to control the risks of welding processes, please refer to SafeWork SA’s Code of Practice Welding processes.
Or contact the MTA’s Workplace Relations team on 8291 2000.
