The Risks of the Trade: What Every Welder Should Know!

Welding is essential in many industries, including infrastructure, construction, and automotive manufacturing. However, there are often underestimated risks hidden behind the sparks of performance.

This article will reveal the nine main risks associated with welding and offer preventive measures to ensure safe and responsible practice.

1 – Fumes and Gases

Welders are exposed daily to many harmful substances emitted from the materials they handle. Here is a non-exhaustive list:

• Toxic substances: lead, manganese, cadmium, ozone, etc.
• Carcinogens: chromium, cadmium, beryllium, nickel, etc.
• Welder’s fever: zinc, copper, magnesium, aluminum, cadmium, iron oxide, manganese, nickel, selenium, silver, and tin, etc.
• Allergens: chromium, nickel, zinc, aluminum, diisocyanates, etc.
• Asphyxiants: acetylene, argon, carbon oxides, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, etc.
• Fibrosing agents: asbestos, beryllium, iron, nitrogen oxide, silica, etc.
• Irritants: ozone, nitrogen dioxide, iron oxide, molybdenum, nickel, phosgene, phosphine, cadmium, chromium, copper, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, zinc, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, diisocyanates, aldehydes, tungsten, etc.

Exposure to these substances can lead to effects such as:

• Eye, nose, or throat irritation
• Muscle and joint pain
• Dizziness and nausea
• Respiratory difficulties, including suffocation or asphyxiation
• Welder’s fever
• Lung problems
• Various types of cancer
• Stomach ulcers
• Kidney damage
• Nervous system damage
• Manganism
• Chest pain
• Asthma
• Hemorrhages
• Dermatitis or eczema
• Kidney disease
• Bone and joint disorders
• Siderosis (iron oxide deposits in the lungs)
• Stannosis (inhalation of tin oxide fumes)
• Anthracosis (carbon dust inhalation)
• Berylliosis (beryllium smoke inhalation)
• Fluid accumulation in the lungs

To protect you against these risks, we have developed an eight-step method to reduce the production of toxic fumes and extract residual fumes.

1. Finding alternatives
2. Isolating welding operations
3. Using a process that generates less smoke
4. Selecting materials and consumables
5. Smoke extractors
6. Work position
7. General ventilation
8. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Any questions? Ask them directly in the chat at the bottom right of your screen or during one of our webinars.

2 – Noise

Some welding and cutting processes are among the noisiest activities in the industry. Arc air cutting, welding, and plasma cutting produce high noise levels that can cause irreversible hearing damage. Related operations such as manual slag removal, shot blasting, grinding, and hammering significantly increase noise exposure.

Prolonged exposure to such noise levels can lead to deafness, often preceded by tinnitus. Additionally, a noisy environment affects welders’ alertness and precision of psychomotor responses, putting them at risk of making potentially dangerous errors.

The adverse effects of noise do not stop at hearing; they also include irritability, anxiety, increased fatigue, and stress. Excessive sound pressure can also reduce infection resistance and cause cardiovascular disorders, thus impacting overall health beyond just hearing.

Solutions to mitigate the risk of noise:

1. Using quieter manufacturing technologies and meticulous equipment maintenance can reduce the noise level generated.
2. Installing partitions or acoustic screens around noisy areas helps decrease the spread of sound waves.
3. Welders should wear hearing protection such as earplugs or noise-cancelling earmuffs tailored to the noise levels they are exposed to.
4. Organize schedules to limit exposure time to noise and alternate noisy tasks with quieter ones.

3 – Ergonomics

Workplace ergonomics is often overlooked in welding but is vital for preventing long-term injuries. Welders regularly face significant ergonomic risks, which, if ignored, can lead to debilitating health consequences.

Welders frequently have to move heavy metal parts or equipment, straining their muscles and skeleton. Welding often requires maintaining uncomfortable positions for extended periods, causing strain on specific body parts.

Activities such as grinding, polishing, or welding involve repetitive movements. Moreover, standing still in the same position, welders are prone to develop aches.

The direct consequences of these ergonomic risks include a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders. Sprains, strains, fractures, and lower back pain are among the most common injuries in welders. Back pain due to lifting and handling loads is especially prevalent.

Neck injuries, leg and knee pain, and tendonitis are also frequently reported. These issues can be exacerbated by daily wear and tear in the workshop, leading to long-term joint disorders.

Prevention and improvement of ergonomics in the workplace include:

1. Proper training on safe handling techniques to minimize the risk of injury when lifting or moving loads.
2. Designing workstations to fit the task and the individual can help reduce physical strain.
3. Using mechanical lifting equipment can significantly reduce the physical burden on workers.
4. Implementing regular breaks and task rotation can lessen exposure to harmful postures and movements.
5. Encouraging stretching and muscle-strengthening routines can improve the overall physical condition of welders.
6. An ergonomist can analyze workstations to identify and mitigate ergonomic risks with targeted adjustments.

4 – Particle Projection

In welding, particle projections such as sparks and droplets of molten metal are common but hazardous occurrences. Sparks can bounce off surfaces and infiltrate clothing, shoes, or under protective gear. Molten metal droplets can cause severe burns upon skin contact. Additionally, metal dust created by grinding and polishing can lodge on the skin or reach the eyes.

Hot particles can cause injuries ranging from superficial burns to more serious ones requiring medical intervention. Eyes are particularly vulnerable to flying particles, leading to eye injuries or even vision loss. Small incandescent particles can also cause painful little stings on the skin, similar to insect bites but with a risk of infection and scarring.

To protect against particle projection, welders must use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety glasses with side protection, face shields, heat-resistant gloves, and protective clothing made of flame-resistant material. Moreover, installing barriers or screens around welding areas can help confine and minimize particle dispersion.

5 – Heat

Exposure to high temperatures is another dangerous aspect of welding. The effects of excessive heat go beyond temporary discomfort and can lead to severe disorders.

• Heat Rash: Painful and itchy skin eruptions caused by excessive sweating in hot environments.
• Heat Edema: Swelling of the extremities due to water retention in response to heat.
• Mental Fatigue: Heat can impair concentration and judgment, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Heat Cramps: Painful muscle spasms often result from salt loss and dehydration during work in hot conditions.
• Heat Exhaustion: Profuse sweating without adequate fluid replacement can lead to heat exhaustion.
• Syncope: Heat-induced blood pressure drops can lead to fainting.
• Heat Stroke: The most severe heat-related condition where the body can no longer regulate its temperature can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Preventing heat-related illnesses includes taking regular breaks in cool areas, drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, and wearing appropriate clothing that promotes the evaporation of sweat. It’s also important to gradually acclimate the body to hot work environments and respond quickly to signs of heat distress.

6 – Radiation

Welding exposes workers to various forms of radiation that can have harmful health effects in both the short and long term, particularly ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) rays.

Exposure to UV rays can cause “arc eye,” a form of keratitis, and promote the development of cataracts after repeated exposure. UV also intensifies pigmentation, can cause sunburn (redness), accelerates skin aging, and increases the long-term risk of skin cancer.

The intense light from visible rays can cause glare, leading to visual fatigue and headaches, thus impairing work performance and the general well-being of the welder.

Exposure to IR rays can lead to excessive tearing, headaches, and, in the most severe cases, retinal and corneal burns, also contributing to long-term cataract formation. IR rays can also cause thermal burns and various skin conditions similar to those caused by prolonged heat exposure.

To protect against the harmful effects of radiation, welders should:

1. Use Personal Protective Equipment such as welding masks with appropriate filters that block UV and IR rays and face shields when exposed to intense light.
2. Wear clothing that covers the skin and is made of UV-resistant fabrics to reduce skin exposure significantly.
3. Use welding screens or curtains to minimize radiation exposure for other workers nearby.

7 – Electric Shocks

Welding involves high electric currents, presenting an inherent risk of electric shocks. The severity of injuries from electric shock is determined by the body’s resistance and the intensity, duration, and path of the current through the body.

The consequences of an electric shock can range from mild, painful jolts to much more severe outcomes, such as:

• Acute pain from electric shocks
• Involuntary muscle contractions
• Severe electric shocks leading to temporary or permanent cessation of breathing
• Cardiac fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder that can be fatal
• Internal and external burns resulting from the current passing through tissues

Essential safety measures include:

1. Using equipment and materials that are in good working condition
2. Always wear insulating gloves and safety shoes
3. Training welders in safe work procedures and first aid in case of an electrical accident
4. Regular maintenance of equipment to ensure their proper function and safety

8 – Fires and Explosions

Welding can quickly become a source of fire and explosion when performed near combustible materials or pressurized gases. Fires and explosions can cause catastrophic damage, including severe or fatal worker injuries and significant damage to equipment and infrastructure. Preventive measures include:

1. Removing combustible materials from the welding area.
2. Proper use and secure storage of gas cylinders.
3. Ensuring adequate ventilation to prevent the accumulation of flammable gases.
4. Constant monitoring of areas where the risk of fire is high.

9 – Metal Cutting, Drilling, and Shaping Machines

Using machines to cut, drill, and shape metal can expose workers to serious injury risks. Operating these machines without adequate protection can lead to cuts, bruises, fractures, or amputations. There are also risks associated with interacting with the machine’s moving parts, such as hair or clothing being caught.

Strict safety protocols must be established, such as:

1. Thorough training in the safe use of machines.
2. Regular maintenance of machines to ensure their safety.
3. Installing protection devices to prevent any contact with moving parts.
4. Wear appropriate personal protection, such as safety glasses, ear protectors, and durable work clothes. It is also advised for some machines not to wear gloves or loose clothing as they could get caught in moving parts.

Conclusion

The welding profession involves numerous risks that should not be taken lightly. From exposure to toxic fumes to electrocution risks, intense noise, precarious ergonomics, particle projection, extreme heat, harmful radiation, and the dangers associated with heavy machinery, every aspect of this job requires careful attention and rigorous precautionary measures.

Implementing safe work practices, using protective equipment, and ongoing training are crucial to reducing these risks. By fostering a safe work environment that is aware of the dangers, the health and safety of welders are preserved, and productivity and the quality of work are also improved.