Dangers, Hazards and Safety Tips as Prescribed by the MSHA
The potential hazards of welding operations include metal fumes, toxic gases, and ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Fume particles are formed from vaporization of molten metal. They are very fine in size, generally one micron or smaller, and may join together to form larger particles. Fumes can be sampled by drawing air through a special filter at a controlled rate. The adverse health effects of overexposure to welding fumes and gases include chronic or acute systemic poisoning, metal fume fever (a short-term painful ailment with symptoms of fever and chills), pneumoconiosis (lung disease due to accumulation of mineral or metallic particles), and irritation of the respiratory tract.
The welding fumes produced at welding operations depend primarily on the composition of the metals being welded and the welding rods. When the base metal is iron or steel, with welding rods of similar composition the main component of the fume will be iron oxide. When welding on stainless steel, fumes containing nickel and chromium may be produced. Welding on plated, galvanized, or painted metals may generate fumes containing cadmium, zinc oxide, or lead. In addition, welding rods can generate fluoride in the fume as well as free silica, depending on the composition of the welding rod coating. In summary, welding processes may generate many different metal fumes and other toxic components. It is important that the hazards of a welding operation be evaluated properly. Toxic gases that arise in welding include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxides, and ozone. If welding or cutting operations are conducted in the presence of chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as the form of solvents either on the metals or in the air, hazardous concentrations of phosgene and hydrogen chloride, which are highly toxic irritant gases, may be produced.
In addition to the health hazards of metal fumes and toxic gases, welding operations involve the hazard of burns from flame, arc, molten metal, and heated surfaces and also that of metal splatter. Welding operations in general require face, neck and eye protection for the welder -- against sparks, splatter of molten metal, and the radiations (ultraviolet, infrared, and intense visible) of the arc or flame. Normally this means that a welder will wear a welding hood, or helmet, though in some cases gas welding may properly be done with adequate goggles, gloves, and other protective clothing of neck and arms. When personal respiratory protection is required, this may be provided by a supplied-air welding hood or when the components and concentration of the fume are known, by a filter-type respirator with filter for protection against fumes. It is preferable, of course, that adequate ventilation be provided so as to make the use of respirators unnecessary.
If you feel that you or a loved one has been injured or placed in harms way due to the negligence of another, or the negligence of an employeer, fill out the form provided below. Injury and illnesses due to fumes from Welding Rods occur all too often and the side effects can greatly impair one's quality of life.
Free Welding Rod Fumes Consultation
Personal Information:
Date of Birth / Age:
(ex. mm/dd/yyyy or 54)
Are you inquiring for yourself?
Yes No
If not, who are you
inquiring on behalf of?
If you are NOT inquiring on your own behalf,
what is your relationship to the injured person?
Is the person deceased?
Yes No
If deceased, what is the cause of death
as stated on the death certificate:
Date of Death:
(ex. mm/dd/yyyy)
Was an autopsy performed?
Yes No
If not deceased, does the
injury prevent you or the
victim from working?
Yes No
If yes, when did you/victim stop working?
What is the approximate lost wages
due to the injury?
Symptom Information:
How long were you a welder for? years
What were the
dates of exposure?*
Begin:
End:
City where you worked:
*
State where you worked:
*
What types of welding have you done before?
(Ex. MIG, TIG, Steel, Alloy, Other)
What BRANDS and TYPES of welding rods do you remember using?
Have you experienced any of the following symptoms?
Please check all that apply:
Tremors in any extremity?
Yes No
If yes, please explain:
Rigidity in hands, arms,
legs, or upper body?
Yes No
If yes, please explain:
Gait (Walking) Disturbances?
Yes No
If yes, please explain:
Facial Effects?
Yes No
If yes, please explain:
Speech Disorders?
Yes No
If yes, please explain:
Sexual Dysfunction?
Yes No
If yes, please explain:
Other Symptoms?
Yes No
If you have any medical problems that you feel
may be related, please explain:
Have you ever had an
MRI of the brain?
Yes No
Have you ever received medical
care for any of your symptoms?
Yes No
Have you been diagnosed with any of the following conditions?
Manganism
Manganese Toxicity
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinsons-Like Syndrome
Parkinsonism
Other Neurological Disease
What was the date of diagnosis?
Case Description*
Please explain exactly what happened, trying to state
as thoroughly as possible who you believe was responsible
and why you believe that person was negligent:
Please explain the full extent of the victims injuries:
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