Welding Air Filtration News and Info

HEPA Filtration for Welding Fume: Why Bother?

November 4th, 2024 | Posted in Welding

The short answer to the question posed above is that welding fume has been classified as a human carcinogen with the lung as the target organ. In view of that information, using the most effective filtration is obviously good sense. We have long known that prolonged over exposures to welding fume places welders at increased risk for respiratory system ailments, particularly lung cancer[i]. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and nickel compound exposures have long been identified as…

Positioning Of The Source Capture Hood During Welding

May 21st, 2024 | Posted in Welding

Updated 5/21/2024 For welding, AQE recommends utilizing a source capture hood as the primary means of capturing smoke, fumes and VOC’s. For many manual welding jobs, the welder will be welding on parts that are positioned or clamped on a table or bench. In addition, there may be a custom fixture in use to assure repeatability. For larger weldments, the welder will be welding directly on a part that is “free-standing”. In either scenario, the…

Backdraft Bench For Welding Fumes

September 22nd, 2022 | Posted in Welding

We noted previously that the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommended a number of possible engineering control solutions for welding fume. In the ACGIH volume, “Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice for Design,” the ACGIH recommends ventilation controls for welding fume in the following order of preference: Enclosing hoods Vacuum nozzles (for MIG and FCAW) Fixed slot or plenum hood on a worktable Movable hood hanging freely Overhead canopy Dilution ventilation So…

Four Common Substances That Could Reduce Industrial Workplace Air Quality

April 23rd, 2021 | Posted in Air Cleaners, General, Welding

Air in industrial workplaces is constantly being exposed to many substances. Many of these are not necessarily harmful for workers, but depending on the type of manufacturing and craft happening in the building they can indeed be very dangerous. What are four common substances that could reduce industrial workplace air quality? Let’s take a look. 1. Welding fumes Welding in any setting can produce a wide variety of harmful fumes. These fumes can affect the…

Risks Of Hexavalent Chromium Overexposure

January 6th, 2020 | Posted in Welding

“Hot work,” such as welding and thermal cutting, performed on carbon or stainless steel, exposes workers to toxic and hazardous fumes. Last month, we spoke with Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) Mike Harris, PhD of Hamlin & Harris, Inc. about the dangers associated with manganese that welders face. We caught up with Harris again this month to learn about another major threat found in welding fumes: hexavalent chromium (CrVI). Read on to learn about the risks…

The Health Hazards of Manganese on Welders

November 25th, 2019 | Posted in Welding

“If you weld, your chances of being overexposed to manganese are just about 100 percent.” – Mike Harris, PhD, CIH Are you aware of the health hazards of manganese on welders? We spoke with Mike Harris of Hamlin & Harris, Inc. to find out just how toxic welding fumes can be. Harris is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) who teaches courses on welder health and safety for the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). According to…

Welding Hazards and Your Workplace

August 10th, 2017 | Posted in Welding

A recent article published by IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) estimates that 11 million workers worldwide have a job title of “welder” and an additional 110 million workers probably incur welding related exposures such as fumes, gases, radiation, asbestos, and solvents. The hazards from welding extend beyond the welders. People working with and near welders are also susceptible to the same carcinogens as the welders. It is also possible that the workers near…