Controlling welding fumes, gases in the workplace

The control of fumes and gases in arc welding is an important workplace health and safety issue. Fortunately, many solutions are available to improve fume control, providing users with a number of options to comply with applicable exposure limits. Before selecting a solution, however, users need to evaluate each individual application to determine the best control method. The first step is to identify welding fume exposures and related potential hazards. This involves a review of information, such as Material Safety Data Sheets, about the materials and processes in the workplace. Next, evaluate the welding fume exposures and take air samples to quantify worker exposures. Compare the exposures to the applicable exposure limits, such as OSHA's permissible exposure limits or the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists'threshold limit values, to identify and prioritize those in which improvement is needed. The final step is to assess available control methods and determine which solutions are best for the application. No single solution will fit all applications, and more than one control method may be needed in some cases.