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• Ensure the job has • You have undertaken • If you are providing
been designed to a task specific risk respiratory protection you
minimise the assessment and have, or will arrange face
amount of welding determined the control fit testing.
required on site. measures including a
suitable type of
respiratory protection.
Breathing welding fume can be harmful to health and often
underestimated. The constituents of the fume will depend on:
• The particles will arise from the welding rod metal being
used. The visible part of the fume cloud is mainly particles
of metal, metal oxide and flux. If inhaled, these very fine
particles can cause ill health.
Bad practice picture required • The gasses can include carbon monoxide, nitrous
oxides, shielding gasses of argon or helium and ozone
(especially when welding aluminium).
• Pre-fabricated structures.
Image © and courtesy of 3M. Where welding is essential, we can design the job to use
techniques which produce the least fume, such as TIG
instead of metal inert gas (MIG) or manual metal arc
(MMA) welding.
We will train you:
Minimise fume There are numerous alternative options, the • Simpler solutions include use of cold
following are just a selection. Some, or all of jointing techniques. There are numerous
them may not be applicable to your particular mechanical fasteners (bolts, rivets etc.).
Can the job be
job: Adhesive technologies have progressed in
designed so there is
recent years. For example, bonded metal
less hot work, such as
• CAD/3D design techniques allow complex structures are used in some new cars.
welding, gouging,
items to be designed and manufactured
manual flame/plasma
with more accuracy. Combined with CNC • More novel techniques such as friction stir
cutting?
cutting, it is possible to design and welding can be used for certain
automate raw materials cutting so that applications. There may be other risks
there is minimal grinding and gap filling associated with friction stir welding
when complex parts are fitted together but it produces little or no fume.
later in the fabrication process.
Visual standards demonstrate ‘what good looks like’.
They are intended to reinforce expectations of health and safety standards.
• Work is designed to avoid welding where possible, choosing other fixing
methods or prefabrication where possible.
Cleaning Up Dust with Vacuum Cleaners Painting with Brushes and Rollers
Diesel Fume Removal of Lead-Based Paint
Dust Control in Hard Demolition Water Suppression on Tools
Dust Control in Soft Strip Demolition Welding Fume
Painting with Brushes and Rollers Wood Dust
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