Source Reduction: Practical Issues in Minimizing Welding Fume Exposures

Details

• Personal Author:
  Keane MJ
• Description:
  Welding is a major occupational activity. More than 200,000 workers in the United States and 1.8 million workers worldwide do welding as all or part of their jobs. The hazards of welding are well-understood and include exposures to intense light, heat, and a number of toxic components present in welding fume, such as manganese, iron, carbon monoxide, ozone, and other toxic agents. When welding stainless steel and similar chromium alloys, the well-established carcinogen hexavalent chromium and the possible carcinogen nickel are present and are even more serious concerns. In most cases there are well-understood approaches to control and individual welder's exposures to hazards. These include engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and other measures. Exposures can still be high, however, even after implementing protective measures. Achieving the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit for hexavalent chromium (5ug/m3) is very difficult, and the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (0.2 ug/m3) is even more challenging. The first and best strategy is to control hazards at the source; engineering controls and other measures can further augment reductions at the source. In the case of welding, source reduction is most readily achieved by substituting a lower-emission welding process for a high-emission welding process. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Carbon Monoxide Carcinogens Chromium Engineering Environmental Exposure Ferrous Compounds Hazardous Substances Hot Temperature Manganese Nickel Occupational Health Ozone Personal Protective Equipment Protective Clothing Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Welding

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• Keywords:
  Carbon Monoxide Chromium Compounds Engineering Controls Exposure Levels Fumes Hazards Heat Heat Exposure Hexavalent Chromium Hexavalent Chromium Compounds Iron Light Source Personal Protection Personal Protective Equipment PPE Protective Clothing Protective Equipment Protective Measures Risk Factors Stainless Steel Toxic Fumes Toxins Welders Welding Fumes Workers

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• ISSN:
  1066-7660
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050993
• Citation:
  Synergist 2017 Apr; :201704
• Email:
  mjk3@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon monoxide (CAS RN 630-08-0) ; Chromium (CAS RN 7440-47-3) ; Chromium(6+) (CAS RN 18540-29-9) ; Iron (CAS RN 7439-89-6) ; Manganese (CAS RN 7439-96-5) ; Nickel (CAS RN 7440-02-0) ; Ozone (CAS RN 10028-15-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Synergist
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e4fd03196f641dfca85106a8bea75f429d2e6a2d0de36d942045a75ce22ba26240838dd25a669eb0356f3fea64026ac7f79e7f16f8719bf203a259358676e046
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211140/cdc_211140_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 152.88 KB ]