As a welder you must be aware of the hazards that you face when doing your work. Fire and electrocution are two of the most common hazards that come to mind when you think about welding. There is another danger when it comes to welding and that is from the fumes generated when you are working. These fumes can contain gases, metals, and other materials that can cause serious health and safety problems for you.
This is the reason why you have to be aware about the dangers that welding fumes hold for you and what you can do in order to safeguard yourself against it. One of the best things you can do to protect your health as a welder is to use or buy a weld fume extraction unit or extractor. The problem of fumes in welding depends on the welding method that you use and on the materials that you have. The rods, fillers, and base materials have content that can turn into harmful and toxic fumes once you start working.
One of the biggest hazards that you face with welding is the off chance of inhaling manganese. Manganese poisoning can cause serious damage to the brain and to the nervous system. Persons who are exposed to manganese fumes often develop Parkinson’s disease which is an illness related to the nervous system and which makes it difficult for one to coordinate the movements of the body. People who suffer from Parkinson’s also have a hard time maintaining their balance. This is related to manganism which is a disease similar to Parkinson’s. Both of these illnesses can cause tremors, shaking, and loss of muscle control in the body and it can develop or get worse as time passes.
Another harmful material that is commonly found in welding fumes is iron oxide which comes from the iron contained in the base material and the rod. Iron oxide can irritate your throat; it can even affect your lungs. The presence of nickel in fumes can be especially harmful to those with asthma. Chromium on the other hand can cause problems with your sinus. Both of these metals, chromium and nickel have been proven by studies to cause cancer.
Another thing to look out for when doing welding work are the chemicals and the coatings that are on the metal that you are working on, because when these are exposed to great heat they can turn into fumes that can prove to be just as toxic as the other metals that we have mentioned before. Cadmium is one such coating which is normally used to prevent rust. When inhaled, cadmium can cause lung diseases as well as kidney failure. If you work on metal that has been painted it can cause lead to be included in the fumes which is highly toxic.
Because of all these hazards that you face from welding fumes it is important that you use a good system for weld fume extraction. It is not enough that you have good ventilation in your workshop. Normal ventilation cannot get rid of the harmful fumes fast enough to guarantee that you will not be exposed to it. Make a priority out of getting a good welding fume extractor. They might cost a few bucks, but they are crucial to your long term health and ability to continue working unimpeded for years to come.