Health & Safety: Five Potential Welding Safety Hazards to Avoid Welding can and should be considered a safe occupation; when proper precautions are taken, welders have no cause to fear accident or injury. But when safety isn’t taken seriously in the workplace, the risk of a severe incident becomes a real concern. Education is the key to ensuring a safe and productive working environment for everyone. Employers need to invest in thorough and up-to-date training for all their employees to ensure that they understand the risks associated with welding, the mitigation strategies they can use, and the equipment available to prevent accident and injury. Additionally, recognising the risks posed by mental health challenges, and addressing these, is vital to maintaining a healthy workforce. Weld Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Crittenden, believes safety is a critical consideration for welding projects – no matter what scale.
damage. In 2017, welding fumes were classified as ‘carcinogenic’, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
“Welding is a safe occupation when proper precautions are taken. But, if safety measures are ignored, welders and members of the general public face an array of hazards that can be potentially dangerous, from electric shock and electrocution,” he said.
It is vital that appropriate strategies are in place to reduce welder exposure to fumes, and prevent the long-term health effects that can result from exposure. All welders should receive training on methods to mitigate the effects of metal fume, including positioning themselves to reduce exposure, and investigating less toxic alternatives where possible.
To address safety considerations in the sector, Weld Australia established the Welding Safety Council. The Council enables industry and legislative bodies to work together to minimise the risk of injury and loss of life in the welding and fabrication sector. “By drawing together key government stakeholders, statutory bodies and industry into a single independent body focused on eradicating welding related injury, the Australian welding industry will be taking a significant step forward in protecting both the general public and welders,” Crittenden said. While the Council is a step in the right direction, there are several processes that individuals and their respective organisations can follow to ensure increased safety. Fumes and Gases Welding fumes and gases contain harmful materials that can be hazardous to an individual’s health. Welders can be exposed to high levels of fumes from welding consumables, or contaminants found in surface coatings. Fumes are generated by heat, which is a common factor in the welding process. Welding fume exposure may lead to fever, stomach ulcers, and kidney or nervous system
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Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems capture and extract welding fume at the source and are a proven way of reducing exposure. All workplaces should have fit-for-purpose LEV systems installed and regularly maintained. Weld Australia has published a range of Technical Guidance Notes, which provide practical advice for industry to follow for fume hazard minimisation. Electric Shock Electric shock, or electrocution may occur when a welder makes direct contact with an electrode, a work piece, live parts or though an unearthed tool or cable. Weld Australia is committed to ongoing education and training for welders. Last year, a virtual forum took place, where 32% of all attendees indicated that they had experienced an electric shock while working with a welding power source. There are some basic processes that welders and fabricators should undertake to prevent electrocution. Simple actions such as checking that equipment is dry and well maintained, and installing
