Protect Against Multiple Hazards of Welding

Details

• Personal Author:
  Backus A
• Description:
  A recent item in Along the Coast (CFN August 2007) reporting medevacs of two fishermen due to eye injuries reminded me of my 2001 visit to the Hyundai containership manufacturing and assembly plant in Pohang, South Korea. My host was a Korean occupational medicine physician who was making a work-site visit as Hyundai's occupational safety consultant. I had the privilege of taking a tour of the plant while he discussed safety with workers and line managers. As we rounded one bend, I noticed a single worker, high up amid the steel, welding the side of a bulkhead to the steel spine to make a container space. It appeared that he was welding in a confined space because he was facing a corner with reflective surfaces on both sides of him and was without additional ventilation. The intense light and sparks flying everywhere reminded me he was being exposed to particles, sparks, fumes, and radiation. The good news was that, at the Hyundai plant, as in many other large corporations, there was a safety consultant on site and safety policies were in place. Adherence to LOSHA regulations (Korean Occupational Health and Safety Administration) was required, as was use of appropriate personal protective equipment, training, and monitoring. In contrast, welders working here in a small shop or boatyard or fishermen welding on their vessels are more vulnerable and at risk. That's because they are less likely to have appropriate eye and body protection, proper training, or supervision. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Air Pollutants, Occupational Electric Injuries Environmental Exposure Eye Hunting Manganese Occupational Health Particulate Matter Personal Protective Equipment Protective Clothing Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Sense Organs Sense Organs / Injuries Staff Development Welding Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Accidents Electrical Shock Equipment Design Equipment Maintenance Equipment Reliability Exposure Levels Eye Hazards Eye Injuries Eye Protection Eye Protective Equipment Face Shields Fishing Fishing Industry Fumes Gloves Infrared Radiation Injuries Injury Prevention Particulates Personal Protection Personal Protective Equipment PPE Protective Clothing Protective Equipment Protective Measures Risk Factors Safety Culture Safety Education Safety Equipment Safety Measures Seasonal Activity Seasonal Factors Training Ultraviolet Radiation Welders Welding Equipment Work Environment Workers

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• ISSN:
  0273-6713
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062221
• Citation:
  Commercial Fish News 2007 Sep; :14B
• Contact Point Address:
  Ann Backus, MS, Director of Outreach, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston MA
• Email:
  abackus@hohp.harvard.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Manganese (CAS RN 7439-96-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Commercial Fisheries News
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:79a058cd5b5ecbe9bd22341fd3bc3582c6641abde454aa4966f6f3f64b54087368643a505876e1cec7090e0fdbe8b6437d487ba6ffdf90d18f50a2e66577d79e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225516/cdc_225516_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 332.44 KB ]