THE HEALTH OF WELDERS IN NAVAL DOCKYARDS: ACUTE CHANGES IN RESPIRATORY FUNCTION DURING STANDARDIZED WELDING

Twenty-five welders with 6–25 yr welding experience were matched by age, sex and smoking habit to 25 electrical fitters who work in an area where welding is not normally done. Each man was clinically examined, had a large film PA chest radiograph and performed a number of pulmonary function tests at this examination and then at the beginning and end of a shift. The gases and fumes in the breathing zone were sampled. Each welder worked for 1 day, making a total of 25 separate tests days over a 5-week period. The welders worked in one site, using the same consumable and type of work piece. There were no cases of siderosis and no significant difference in the overall prevalence of lung function abnormalities between welders and controls, although there were some differences in the pattern of abnormalities. No significant differences were found between lung function changes over the day in the group means of welders and controls. There was a significant positive correlation between the increase in residual volume and the fume concentrations in the breathing zones of the welders. The survey methods and results are discussed and compared with previous investigations.