Welders exposed to toxic substances at storage tank manufacturing company

Welding without proper safety precautions can expose workers
to hazardous chemicals and fumes. 

Workers welding stainless steel and other alloy steels containing chromium metal at a Wisconsin bulk storage tank manufacturer were exposed to hazardous levels of hexavalent chromium.

At high levels, hexavalent chromium can cause lung cancer and respiratory, eye and skin damage.

After a complaint, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors visited Imperial Industries in Rothschild and identified two willful and 12 serious safety violations.

Proposed penalties total $161,100.

"Each year 50,000 workers die from exposures to hazardous substances like chromium during their careers. Failing to take steps to limit exposure to this dangerous substance is inexcusable," said Robert Bonack, area director of OSHA's Appleton office.

"Workers pay the price when companies don't follow standards to reduce injuries and illnesses. Imperial Industries needs to take immediate steps to comply with safety and health standards."

Inspectors determined employees were exposed to hexavalent chromium at levels exceeding permissible exposure limits while welding steels containing chromium metal. Chromium is added to harden alloy steel and help it resist corrosion.

Additionally, the company failed to implement engineering controls to reduce and monitor exposure levels among workers.

The November 2014 investigation also found workers endangered by amputation and struck-by hazards because machines lacked safety mechanisms. Numerous electrical safety hazards were also identified, and workers were found operating damaged powered industrial vehicles.

Imperial Industries manufactures heavy gauge metal industrial tanks that are typically mounted to commercial trucks.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees.

OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.

Source: OSHA

Concerned about exposure to toxic chemicals and gases at your workplace? 

Electrocorp has designed a wide range of industrial and commercial indoor air cleaners with activated carbon and HEPA filters that remove dangerous chemicals, gases, fumes, odors and particles from the ambient air. Source capture units are also available. 

Check out Electrocorp's welding fume extractors or browse other industrial and commercial applications. Contact Electrocorp by calling 1-866-667-0297 or e-mailing sales@electrocorp.net.

Welders at risk of toxic and explosive fumes

Blast kills temporary worker, critically injures another

Employers need to verify fire and explosion hazards: OSHA

MOSS POINT, Miss. — Two temporary workers hired to cut and weld pipes at the Omega Protein plant in Moss Point on July 28, 2014, had no idea and had no training to know that the storage tank beneath them contained explosive methane and hydrogen sulfide gases.

One of the two men found out later as he lay in a hospital with a fractured skull, internal injuries and broken bones. The second, a 25-year-old man named Jerry Taylor, died when the tank exploded.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the incident and has found four companies violated safety regulations that could have prevented the tragedy.

The companies are Accu-Fab & Construction Inc., Omega Protein, and JP Williams Machine & Fabrication, all in Moss Point, and Global Employment, in Pascagoula.

Accu-Fab, a metal fabricator, was contracted by Omega Protein to manufacture and erect a wastewater storage tank that required modification of existing pipes.

A staffing agency, Global Employment Services, provided Accu-Fab with the employees needed at Omega. JP Williams Machine, which provides industrial service and repair, was on-site the day of the explosion performing unrelated maintenance activities.

"The Omega Protein plant explosion shines a spotlight on how critical it is for employers to verify, isolate and remove fire and explosion hazards in employee work areas," said Eugene Stewart, OSHA's area director in Jackson. "If the employer ensured a safe environment, this tragic incident could have been prevented."

Repeated violations

OSHA issued 13 citations to Omega Protein, a producer of omega-3 fish oil and specialty fish meal products, for willful, repeated and serious safety violations.

OSHA issued a willful citation for exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards due to Omega management's failure to inform Accu-Fab that the storage tank contained wastewater that could generate hydrogen sulfide and methane gases, which can be highly explosive and toxic, even at low concentrations.

The repeated violations involve not having standard railings on open-sided floors and platforms and failing to label electrical boxes properly.

Omega Protein was cited previously for these same violations in 2012. Additionally, the serious hazards included allowing workers to weld and cut piping on an improperly prepared storage tank containing explosive methane and hydrogen sulfide gases and failing to label or tag the storage tank to note that it contained hazardous chemicals.

OSHA cited Accu-Fab for one willful, four serious and two other-than-serious violations. The willful violation was issued for failure to train workers on chemical hazards in the work area, such as hydrogen sulfide, methane, welding gas and paints.

Global Employment Services was issued a serious citation for this same hazard.

Additionally, both employers were cited for a serious violation for failure to instruct employees about avoiding unsafe work conditions.

Accu-Fab was also cited for failure to ensure employees working on top of a storage tank at heights of up to 29 feet were wearing fall protection and for not recording this fatality or two other recordable injuries.

JP Williams was issued one serious citation for improperly storing oxygen and acetylene cylinders.

Exposure to acetylene can cause headache, dizziness, asphyxiation and even frostbite.

Proposed penalties for the four companies total $187,620.

OSHA has conducted 13 inspections at Omega Protein facilities in Mississippi, Virginia and Louisiana since 1998. The company received citations for noise exposure, personnel protective equipment, machine guarding, welding and cutting and electrical hazards.

Accu-Fab has three prior OSHA inspections, most recently in 2002, and has been cited for scaffolding, forklift, welding, cutting and electrical violations. Both JP Williams and Global Employment have no prior OSHA inspection history.

Electrocorp's welding fume extractors
remove pollutants at the source.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit OSHA's website.

Welding and soldering work often releases toxic fumes, which can affect the workers' health and well-being. Electrocorp has designed various welding fume extractors and air cleaners for welding and soldering. 

The units feature source capture hoods to remove contaminants before they spread. For more information and a free consultation, contact Electrocorp: 1-866-667-0297.

Report lists agents and exposures that may lead to cancer

Welding can expose workers to
toxic fumes and particulate matter.

IARC listing prioritizes substances for evaluating carcinogenic risks

An advisory group to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has published a report recommending and prioritizing chemicals, complex mixtures, occupational exposures, physical agents, biological agents, and lifestyle factors for IARC Monographs during 2015-2019.

IARC is the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization, and government agencies across the globe use its monographs as scientific support for their actions to prevent exposure to potential carcinogens.

These monographs identify and evaluate environmental factors that can increase carcinogenic risks to humans.

The report lists more than 50 recommended agents and exposures, and among those listed as high priority for the upcoming years are bisphenol A, 1-bromopropane, shiftwork, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, welding and welding fumes, and occupational exposure to pesticides.

Source: OH&S online

Concerned about toxic fumes and vapors at work? Electrocorp has designed industrial-strength air cleaners with activated carbon and HEPA for applications such as welding fume extraction, chemical processing, laser cutting and engraving and many more. Contact Electrocorp for more information and a free consultation.

Manufacturers ignore welders’ health: Experts

Welding is linked to various health risks.

A single welder produces 20 to 40 g of welding fumes per hour, which corresponds to about 35 to 70 kg per year.

Most welders understand the many health risks of working in the fabrication industry, which include electric shocks, fire, explosions and radiation exposure, but it appears that one of the biggest threats to a welder’s health - toxic welding fumes - is being ignored by many welders and their employers.

Research shows a lack of familiarity with the gases used or fumes produced during the welding processes can be a serious health risk. Workers can become ill if dangerous fumes are not removed from the workplace.

OHS groups say it is essential welders are familiar with the materials being used (such as gases, base metals, coatings and cleaners) and their possible health impact.

Research reveals fumes produced during welding processes can lead to workers experiencing eye, skin and respiratory system irritation, nausea, headaches and dizziness.

In some cases, the fumes can cause serious lung diseases and increase the risk of asthma and cancer and possibly lead to asphyxiation.

However, despite all these warnings, many manufacturers are unaware of the need for adequate fume extraction to create a safe working place.

An open roller door and a fan on the roof or in the wall may be able to affect the air changes per hour or minute, but welders are still exposed to the fumes. The area needs to be well ventilated to let toxic fumes and gases escape.

Central ventilation systems and even large extraction hoods over workbenches often fail to provide adequate protection, since the fumes still contaminate the general airflow.

Experts say that extraction-at-source is most effective – removing toxins as soon as the fumes are generated.

Fume extraction air cleaners are the most
effective when it comes to welding fumes.

Fumes from different welding methods

It has been shown that different welding methods give rise to different amounts of fumes containing different concentrations of hazardous substances.

Among the high-risk elements are hexavalent chromium Cr(VI), manganese, nickel and lead.

The particles at source are often extremely small; 0.01-0.1µm which means they are very easy to inhale deep into the lungs.

Furthermore, not only welders are at risk in unsafe environments. Production equipment, as well as end products, are negatively affected by the lack of adequate safety measures.

During welding, the intense heat of the electric arc vaporises a fraction of the metal in the electrode and weld pool.

Any metal vapour that escapes the arc area condenses as it cools and oxidises into weld fume. The vapour that develops condenses as it cools and oxidises into weld fume containing a complex mixture of metal oxides.

Particulate fume is formed mainly by vaporisation of metal and flux. As it cools, the vapour condenses and reacts with the atmospheric oxygen to form fine particles.

The size of the particles (0.01 - 1µm) tends to influence the toxicity of the fumes, with smaller particles presenting a greater danger.

Additionally, many processes produce various gases (most commonly carbon dioxide and ozone, but others as well) that can prove dangerous if ventilation is inadequate.

About 90% of the fume originates from the consumable, while the base metal only contributes very little.

The fume contains all the elements present in the consumable, but often in very different proportions. Volatile components have a higher concentration in the fume than in the consumable and the opposite is true for components with a high melting point.

The amount of welding fume varies between different welding processes: Fumes from manual metal arc (MMA) welding and fluxcored arc welding (FCAW) contain a high proportion of components coming from the electrode coating or the flux core. Comparatively little comes from the filler metal.

It has also been shown that particles in welding fumes are small enough to be suspended in the air for a long time. They can be inhaled and penetrate into the innermost area of the lungs. Over time, the particles can even reach the bloodstream.

Editor's note: This article has been edited for length.

Source: Manufacturers' Monthly

Remove toxins at the source with fume extractors

Electrocorp's LD450
welding fume extractor

Welding is dangerous enough, but the risk of inhaling harmful particles and fumes can be minimized by using an industrial welding fume extraction air cleaner from Electrocorp.

The air cleaning systems feature 40+ pounds of activated carbon for the removal of chemicals and volatile compounds, HEPA and pre-filters to trap airborne particles, a direct intake hood on an articulating arm to capture toxins at the source and a spark arrestor for welding applications.

Custom carbon blends are available for targeted chemical control.

For more information, contact Electrocorp.

Update: Study on effects of welding fumes on women

Welding fumes can affect workers'
health and well-being.

An ongoing study focusing on female workers' exposure to welding fumes and metal dust in metalworking and electrical trades has published some preliminary findings.

The researchers report that the study is now recruiting women from all provinces and territories across Canada, who can complete the questionnaires either in French or English by telephone.

Originally, the study focused on female workers in the province of Alberta. Participants can also complete the questionnaires online.

Up until this point, 531 women have completed the baseline questionnaire and 415 women have completed the first of the questionnaire about exposures at work.

The earliest participants are now nearing their 30 month follow-up questionnaire online or by telephone, having been enrolled for over two years.

Preliminary results focus on metal levels

At the time of their first exposure questionnaire early participants were asked to send in a urine sample so that we could examine the relationship between work and the level of metals inside the body.

There were 107 women who were working in their trade and provided a urine sample at the time of their first exposure questionnaire. This group included 56 welders and 51 electricians. Each urine sample was analyzed for a series of metals possibly related to work in the trades.

The result suggested that welders had higher levels of metals than the electricians, but the differences were small in most cases.

The researchers next looked at whether the metal levels differed depending on the tasks that were carried out on the last day at work before giving the sample.

Among electricians there were no differences in the metal levels, regardless of the tasks on that day. However, among welders, there were differences: those who reported stick welding had higher metal levels than women who did not do stick welding.

In addition, welders who reported TIG welding had lower metal levels than those who did not do TIG welding. We are continuing to analyze these metal levels and will have more results to share in future updates.

For those interested in participating can join the WHAT-ME study at www.whatme.ualberta.ca or write to whatme@ualberta.ca or call 1-866-492-6093.

Source: University of Alberta

Blog posts of interest:

• Study probes effects on dust, welding fumes on women
• Welding hazards: Protect yourself from welding fumes and soldering fumes
• Healthy welders may be at increased risk of brain damage
• Compensation fund set up for workers affected by welding fumes

Concerned about welding fumes and chemical exposures? Electrocorp has designed a wide range of air cleaners for industrial and commercial use, including welding fume extraction and chemical control. Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Poor air quality = Poor productivity

Welding without proper ventilation
is a health-risk

A British lighting company has been prosecuted for subjecting its employees to poor working conditions. 

Despite specialists giving recommendations on how to improve standards, and a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector uncovering multiple areas where the company was not meeting health guidelines, it continued to function under the same circumstances for at least eight more months. 

The company was recently fined for sub-standard bathroom facilities, defects in the electrical system, little to no heating in the building, and no ventilation in the welding and powder-spraying sections.

These failings highlighted the extreme risks workers took when going to work every day. One inspector even stated he had never seen such poor conditions in the ten years he’d been an inspector. 

This company is representative of poor indoor air quality sometimes found in the industrial sector. Many health hazards surrounded the workers, such as bacteria from the bathrooms, the risk of being electrocuted by the faulty systems, catching various colds or flus due to a lack of proper insulation and heating, and breathing in toxic fumes in both the spray booths and the welding area.

In 2010/2011, statistics revealed that work-related illnesses affected approximately 100,000 people in Yorkshire and Humber, England.

Source: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Indoor Air Quality in the Industrial Sector

Working in the industrial sector can be very stressful. Many people are faced with tasks that involve welding, sawing, electrical work, and/or the handling of toxic chemicals. Working with such materials requires a safe and healthy environment. 

It is the companies' responsibility to provide clean and toxic-free working conditions so employees will work more efficiently, and absenteeism, due to work-related illnesses, will be minimized. 

A healthy working environment makes for a happier and healthier employee.

Improving a company’s indoor air quality

Electrocorp's Fume Extractor

If you’re a company that is predominantly in production or manufacturing, and many duties involve welding, soldering, sawing, etc…, the best way to mitigate poor air quality is to use Electrocorp’s Fume Extractor series of air cleaners. With metalwork, it is recommended that each person have a Fume Extractor by his or her side. 

The units have a spark arrestor as well as a maneuverable arm and intake hood which can be moved close to the fumes and sparks. The hood allows the toxic chemicals to be absorbed from the source and immediately taken out of the ambient air, thus providing a healthier indoor air quality for all employees. 

The units use 40-80 lb activated carbon filters to adsorb the toxic chemicals, and HEPA filters help extract particles from the air.

Have you ever been ill from poor air quality at the workplace? 

Do you run a company where you make sure the quality of the air keeps your employees healthy? 

We want to hear from you. Tell us your stories, or feel free to ask any questions. We’d be happy to respond.

Show your support for green working environments by becoming a follower of this blog.

For more information on Electrocorp, please contact us.

Compensation fund set up for workers affected by welding fumes

Plaintiffs in welding fume litigation cases
may be able to benefit from a resolution fund.

Exposure to welding fumes is a high-risk occupational hazard and often the subject of legal pursuits.

Now a US District Judge has set up a fund for a $21.5 million settlement in a multidistrict litigation over the hazardous effects of welding fumes.

The Welding Fume Resolution Fund created by Judge Kathleen M. O’Malley is overseen by a fund administrator, who can determine how the money is dispersed, in accordance with Law360.

The multidistrict litigation involved almost 100 lawsuits, and another 700 or more were pending in other state or federal courts.

The plaintiffs in these lawsuits sought compensation for allegedly developing brain damage after exposure to dangerous welding fumes containing manganese from welding rods.

What are the effects of manganese?

Manganese poisoning (also known as manganism or “welders’ disease”) is caused by excessive exposure to the chemical element manganese (Mn), which is an essential component in iron and steel production.

The disease is sometimes mistaken for Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, or multiple sclerosis.

Manganese poisoning has been the subject of a number of product liability suits brought by welders who claim that manufacturers failed to warn that their products could cause welding fumes to contain dangerously high manganese concentrations.

The MDL agreement was reached earlier this year and affects many of these plaintiffs trying to get some justice in court.

Source: Sokolove Law

Welding fume extractors can remove dangerous chemicals, gases

One of Electrocorp's
welding fume extractors
with source capture.

Welding is an important part of many business processes, but keeping workers’ health and safety in mind has to be of utmost importance.

Electrocorp has developed industrial strength air cleaners for welding fume extraction that can handle the different chemicals, gases and toxins present in welding fumes.

The welding fume extractors contain a deep-bed activated carbon filter for gaseous pollutants, a source capture attachment for protection right where it’s needed and other filters for maximum overall dependability.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.

Related posts:  

• Sick welder sues welding rod manufacturer
• Study probes effect of dust, welding fumes on women
• Occupational risk: Former welders are often clumsier
• Metal fume fever a persisting problem, toxicologists say

  

Occupational risk: Former welders are often clumsier

Welding can expose workers to toxic fumes and particulate.

A new study shows that former welders who were exposed to manganese from welding fumes have a risk of developing increased clumsiness.

The effects last long after the exposure has stopped, according to the study of former shipyard workers in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Previous research has linked exposure to manganese and welding fumes to effects on the central nervous system, but this study focused on the long-term effects on fine motor skills.

The welders in the study underwent several tests that measured their manual dexterity and motor speed, eye-hand coordination, tremor and balance. The results were compared to the results of other shipyard workers that did not do any welding.

Those participants that had a higher total manganese exposure showed a poorer performance, the study authors say, giving reason to believe there is a lasting effect of manganese exposure.

What is manganese?

Manganese is a naturally occurring metal in the environment and human bodies, where it aids in the turnover of carbohydrates and fats.

Workers who are exposed to high concentrations of manganese over a considerable time can develop a condition called manganism, a disease with symptoms similar to Parkinson disease.

Experts say that many welders may be regularly exposed to high-risk levels of manganese that exceed official exposure limits.

Source: Health Canal

Source capture air cleaners for welding applications

One of Electrocorp's fume extractor air cleaners.

Electrocorp fume extractors offer a high-draw solution to welding smoke and fumes.

The portable fume extractors feature at-the-source protection for removing airborne chemicals, vapors, fumes and smoke directly from the workstation.

 The air cleaners feature 2" HEPA fume filters that capture airborne smoke particles and a 40 lb. deep-bed activated carbon filter for chemicals, gases and smoke odor.

 The fume extractors are ideal for MIG, TIG, arc and robotic welding.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.
 

Ventilation problems shut down new welding lab

Gases and fumes released in
the welding process are dangerous.

The students enrolled in the welding program at Washington's Columbia Basin College learned a tough lesson this week about the importance of proper ventilation and adequate protection against welding fumes.

Their lab was shut down after several students were affected by welding fumes that were not vented properly.

After working in the lab, several students reported

• A metallic taste in the mouth
• Visible fumes that lingered
• Sore throat
• Other symptoms and complaints

Welding can produce noxious fumes from the metal, the coatings, residues and solvents, many of which have been linked to short-term and long-term health effects.

The university is installing new metal hoods to improve ventilation.

Source: NBC News 

Portable welding fume extractors can help protect welders

Electrocorp has designed a customizable line of welding fume extraction air cleaners with a spark arrestor, flexible arm and source capture attachment that can remove chemicals, fumes, gases, odors and particles.

The activated carbon and HEPA filtration system combines the most efficient filter media for enhanced protection against harmful fumes.

Contact Electrocorp and ask about our different models and customizable options.

Occupational risk: Welding in underground spaces

Underground welding operations
produce dangerous fumes.

Welding creates harmful fumes that should be vented to protect workers – but what if a person works in a difficult-to-vent spot, like a subway station or any other kind of tunnel or underground structure?

Studies have shown that the levels of pollutants generally stay below established safety limits. Still, the toxins are there, and research is lacking in terms of health effects due to long-term exposure to these toxins.

At least two studies completed in Paris and Seoul have found that toxic pollutants like manganese and chromium can be present in the ambient air of underground transport systems and pose a health risk to workers who spend a lot of time there, according to an in-depth article published by Science Line.

The effects might also be felt by vulnerable populations (i.e. asthmatics, the elderly, children and older subway workers), and it is certainly a consideration for the thousands of workers who work underground every day, including those repairing equipment, driving the trains and welding the tracks.

A New York study found that the level of pollutants in subway stations could be 100 worse than the levels measured outside. One major contaminant is steel dust with tiny metal particles.

Steel welding also creates toxic fumes like hexavalent chromium, one of the most carcinogenic substances known to man.

Source: Science Line

Use portable fume extractors in underground welding operations

The LD450 is a portable fume
extractor with flexible arm.

Electrocorp’s line of portable fume extractors removes the widest range of pollutants at the source with an industrial-strength activated carbon + HEPA filtration system and flexible source capture arm.

They adsorb gases and chemicals in a deep bed of activated carbon, using 40 to 80 pounds of this efficient filtration media. The HEPA filter and pre-filters remove 99.97% of dust particles at 0.3 microns.

The units are designed for TIG, MIG and arc welding operations and they feature a spark arrestor and custom carbon blends.

Contact Electrocorp for more information: 1.866.667.0297.

Welding industry looking for young workers

Electrocorp's welding fume extractors capture many toxins
right at the source.

While it may be difficult for people in some industries to find a job these days, it doesn’t look like qualified welders will run into that problem anytime soon.

According to some sources, there is a mass shortage of skilled welders, as more than 50,000 workers retire each year and only 25,000 new prospects enter the workplace annually.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates there will be 450,000 open welding positions by 2014.

The average welder is in his or her mid-50s, according to the agency, and the job, with its toxic fumes and ultrabright flames that can damage the eyes, isn't amenable to older workers.

Welding is one of those professions dominated by men, although women's share of the field inched up from 5 percent to 6 percent in the five years ending in 2005, according to the Department of Labor.

Protect yourself from harmful welding fumes

Welding is a respected profession with good pay, but risks include loud noise, intense heat, glaring light and toxic welding fumes.

The Fume Extractor LD450

Welders are protected under occupational health and safety standards, but being aware of the risks and making sure that individual protection is adequate is essential for long-term job viability.

The dangerous fumes and gases originate from the metals that are welded and the coatings, residues and solvents. A wide range of toxins can be captured at the source with ventilation hoods and/or an industrial-strength air cleaner with fume extraction.

Electrocorp’s portable fume extractor series is designed for TIG, MIG and arc welding operations. The air cleaners feature a spark arrestor, a flexible source capture arm, a 40 to 80 lb. activated carbon filter to adsorb and trap welding fumes, gases and chemicals, custom carbon blends to enhance the adsorption power for certain gaseous pollutants, and HEPA filters for particle control.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options and ask about our free webinars: 1-866-667-0297.  

Metal fume fever a persisting problem, toxicologists say

Welding fume extractors help remove
dangerous fumes.

“Monday morning fever” – metal fume fever – is a persisting problem, despite changes in modern-day work practices, researchers say. Workers in the home and also students doing metal work are at great risk.

First described in 1822, it is a disease which may have been forgotten by GPs and ED doctors but is well known to toxicologists.

Dr Anselm Wong and colleagues from the Emergency Department at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital and Victorian Poisons Information Center analyzed all metal fume fever-related calls to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre between June 2005 and December 2010.

Among the study's findings:

• They found 85 reported exposures, mostly in males (82 – 96% of cases).
• Almost all (84 – 99%) of these calls were about adults.
• Most (81 – 95%) of the callers reported symptoms occurring within 24 hours, and 53% of the exposures occurred in the workplace.
• The most frequent days of exposure with symptoms were Monday (20 – 24%) and Tuesday (18 – 21%).
• The most common symptoms were fever, headache, and chills.
• All of the calls were people involved in welding metal, zinc being the most common (38%).

The researchers concluded that metal fume fever may still be a public health issue and potentially an indicator of poor work place practices.

Chronic respiratory disease is the fourth leading cause of death of Australasians and this study is an indicator that further efforts are required to ensure safe workplace practice and minimise potentially harmful exposures.

“In the workplace, prevention is the key to this disease – such as avoidance of direct contact with toxic metal fumes, improved engineering controls including exhaust ventilation systems, personal protective equipment such as respirators, and education of workers on the features of the disease.

“However, people in the workshop at home or students doing metal work may not have access to all of these.”

Source: Australasian College for Emergency Medicine

Remove dangerous fumes at the source with a portable air cleaner

Electrocorp has designed air filtration systems with source capture attachments that are specifically designed for metal fumes, welding fumes and soldering fumes.

Contact Electrocorp to speak to an air quality experts and find out more the welding fume extractors and customizable options.

Welder sues after becoming covered in chemicals

Welders need to protect them-
selves from dangerous fumes.

Welding is an important yet dangerous job that exposes workers to heat,  intense light, poisonous gases and fumes.

But it becomes even more dangerous if welders have to work on containers with hazardous materials - especially if they don't know about the toxic substances inside.

This is allegedly what happened to a welder, who has filed a claim against a chemical company. The worker claims he was not warned by the company that the tank he was cutting contained chemicals.

Samuel P. Chaisson filed suit against Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc. n/k/a Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc. and Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc. on April 21 in federal court in New Orleans.

The alleged incident occurred on April 22, 2010.

According to the complaint, the tank contained chemicals which spilled out of the tank and knocked Chaisson off his feet. Chaisson states he sustained severe and disabling injuries when he was knocked down and covered with the chemical.

The defendants are accused of negligence, malice and a conscious indifference to the rights and safety of Chaisson.

The plaintiff is seeking damages for physical pain and mental anguish, lost earnings, loss of earning capacity, disfigurement, physical impairment, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of household services, interest, court costs and punitive damages.

For more information about the case, read the article in the Louisiana Record.


Fume extractors capture toxins at the source

Electrocorp's Fume Extractor Series
with source capture arm.

When it comes to choosing the right air purifier or fume extractor for welders, an industrial-strength activated carbon + HEPA filtration system has been proven to counteract harmful toxins and particles.

Electrocorp’s specially designed air filtration systems for welding fume extraction feature portable, powerful units that capture many toxic fumes at the source, directly at the work station.

They adsorb gases and chemicals in a deep bed of activated carbon, using 40 to 80 pounds of this efficient filtration media.

The units are designed for TIG, MIG and arc welding operations and they feature a spark arrestor, flexible arm and optional custom carbon blends.

Electrocorp also offers air purifiers specifically designed for soldering applications, including a tabletop unit with an intake hood and a smoke particle filter as well as an activated charcoal filter.

Air purifiers by Electrocorp can easily be modified and converted to purify the air in any industrial and commercial environment.
   

Media bias against workers in dangerous jobs, reporter claims

Worker health and safety
remains a serious issue.

Is the deck stacked against workers in hazardous industries?

Quite so, according to senior reporter Jim Morris, who explained the dilemma in a lecture before he received the Upton Sinclair Memorial Award for Outstanding EHS Investigative Reporting.

"In my reporting over the years, I've sometimes detected an odd bias [in the media] against those who work in the oil and gas fields, refineries, commercial fishing, and similar dangerous occupations," he said.

"It's as if it is tragic but hardly shocking when workers in these industries die. 'They knew what they were getting into, didn't they?' It's a stunning bias and lack of compassion."

Morris has written about the dangers of working in certain industries, including lung disease, cancer in the PVC industry, manganese risks from welding fumes and the marketing of the asbestos trade in the developing world.

His stories focused on individual experiences and put it into perspective with the help of statistics, documents, data and quotes.

Closing his lecture, titled "'Why Should I Care?' Humanizing Worker Safety in the Media," Morris said industrial hygiene professionals have a role in media coverage that can positively influence worker safety and health.

"Journalists usually don't know about the emerging threats," he told the audience of about 250 attendees. "I and other journalists rely on information from people like you for the story. It can have a powerful impact."

Source: OHS Online

Learn more about the dangers of welding fumes and benefits of welding fume extractors:

• Welding hazards: Protect yourself from welding fumes and soldering fumes
• Manganese affects front regions of brains, too
• Study probes effect of dust and welding fumes on women
• Welders may be at increased risk of developing brain damage
• Sick welder sues welding rod manufacturers

Find out more about working with dangerous chemicals and air filtration systems designed to target specific pollutants.

• Health and safety claims: US drug firm sued in lab worker's death
• Protect yourself from explosive chemicals
• Chemical exposure caused heart and lung problems, suit claims

Read about asbestos exposure and recent lawsuits and verdicts.

• Asbestos lawsuit awards $322 million to man with asbestosis
• Asbestos: The hidden health hazard in many homes
• Asbestos lawsuit results in $9 million award for former worker
    

Study probes effect of dust, welding fumes on women

The welding industry has an increasing number of female workers.

A study underway at the University of Alberta (UoA) may shed light on health effects that exposure to welding fumes and metal dust have on female workers in metalworking and electrical trades.

The research project, called "Women's Health in Alberta Trades - Metalworking and Electricians" (WHAT-ME), is a collaboration among researchers from the UoA, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

It targets women in the province who have taken part in apprenticeship training in one of the relevant trades at any time during the last five years.

"It would include a variety of different trades where welding is a significant component," co-investigator Dr Jeremy Beach, associate professor with the UoA, says of the study.

Metalworking jobs include welders, boilermakers, ironworkers and blacksmiths, while electrical trades include cable installers, power line technicians, and construction/marine/plant electricians.

About 180 women recruited to date for study

Approximately 180 women, of which about 10 are pregnant, have been recruited for the study. Apart from reproductive health, the study will also look at health issues surrounding respiratory health, skin problems, nickel sensitization and musculoskeletal problems, Dr Beach says.

The initial motivation came from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), which has raised concerns about possible health risks to pregnant welders who are exposed to welding fumes, says Dr Beach. "There have been a number of different health hazards but nobody's looked in much detail about women as a group when they come into this trade."

David Hisey, chair of the safety committee on welding, cutting and allied processes for the CSA, says that there is a need for an "increased level of safety" considering more female welders are entering the workforce in Western Canada.

"We want to make sure we know the hazards that we are putting our kids into and if there's more protection that needs to be provided for all workers, then we need to be looking at that," he adds.

Dr Nicola Cherry, the study's lead investigator and head of the occupational medicine program at the UoA, was initially concerned that the numbers of women in these trades were so small "that you just couldn't find out anything useful," says Dr Beach. 

More women taking on welding jobs

The last few years have seen an increase in women, prompted by the shortage of tradespersons in the province. "There has been definitely a noticeable increase in females in welding trades for sure," agrees Dan Tadic, director with the Canadian Welding Association in Milton, Ontario.

Welding, a process that uses high heat to melt and join metals, is widely used across various industrial sectors such as construction, shipbuilding and bridge construction. "Just about anything that uses metal can and is usually welded," says Tadic.

There are hazards, however, which can include eye injury (from intense light and flying hot slag), radiation and toxic welding fumes consisting of oxides, silicates and fluorides, notes information from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

A 2008 study from Finland found that maternal exposure to welding fumes or metal dusts during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm delivery and reduce intrauterine growth.

There was also some suggestive, but inconsistent, evidence that the risk of preterm delivery and reduced fetal growth is related to paternal exposure to welding fumes, the paper notes.

Results were gleaned from observations of 1,670 women who worked during pregnancy, of which 68 (four per cent) were exposed to either welding fumes or metal dusts or fumes.

The paper found that nitrogen oxide, a compound found in welding fumes and/or metal dusts, was identified as a compound responsible for low birth weight and spontaneous abortion among dental assistants.

"Prenatal exposure to [a] complex mixture of combustion products, emissions from unvented or poorly vented stoves, and ambient air pollution may also increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes," the paper adds.

"It depends on how well you take care of yourself," suggests Gerald Bellehumeur, president of GRB College of Welding in Edmonton, says of welding and its effects on pregnant workers. "[I've seen] women in the trade for so many years. Women work until they are six or seven months pregnant."

Source: OHS Canada


Capture harmful welding fumes at the source

The FumeExtractor captures many
welding fumes at the source.

Electrocorp has designed air filtration systems for welding and soldering applications to protect workers from many chemicals and welding fumes at the workplace.

The portable, powerful units capture many toxic fumes at the source and adsorb gases and chemicals in a deep bed of activated carbon, using 40 to 80 pounds of this efficient filtration media.

The units are designed for TIG, MIG and arc welding operations and feature a spark arrestor, flexible arm and optional custom carbon blends as well as a HEPA filter for particles.

Electrocorp also offers air purifiers specifically designed for soldering applications, including a tabletop unit with an intake hood and a smoke particle filter as well as an activated charcoal filter.

Contact us to find an IAQ solution for you!


Related posts:

• Healthy welders may be at increased risk for brain damage
• New alloy gives welders a less toxic choice
• Sick welder sues welding rod manufacturers
• Welding hazards: Protect yourself from welding fumes and soldering fumes

Welders may be at increased risk for early brain damage

Welding exposes workers to manganese and
other toxic welding fumes.

New research suggests that workers exposed to welding fumes may be at risk for developing brain damage in an area of the brain also affected in Parkinson's disease.

The study is published in the April 6, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Fumes produced by welding contain manganese. Manganese is a chemical element that, even at low levels, has been linked to neurologic problems, including Parkinson's disease-like symptoms.


More than 1 million welders in the US

"There are over one million workers who perform welding as part of their job functions in the United States," said Brad A. Racette, MD, with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a Fellow with the American Academy of Neurology. "If a link between neurotoxic effects and these fumes were proven, it would have a substantial public health impact for the U.S. workforce and economy."

The study involved 20 welders with no symptoms of Parkinson's disease, 20 people with Parkinson's disease who were not welders and 20 people who were not welders and did not have Parkinson's. The welders were recruited from two Midwest shipyards and one metal fabrication company.


Manganese levels high in welders

All participants were given brain PET and MRI scans, motor skills tests and examined by a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders. The welders had an average of 30,000 hours of lifetime welding exposure. Their average manganese levels were found to be two times the upper limits of normal.

Scientists found that welders had an average 11.7 percent reduction in a marker of dopamine in one area of the brain on PET scans as compared to people who did not weld. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that helps nerve cells communicate and is decreased in specific brain regions in people with Parkinson's disease. The welders' motor skills test scores also showed mild movement difficulties that were about half of that found in the early Parkinson's disease patients.

"While these changes in the brain and dopamine dysfunction may be an early marker of neuron death related to welding exposure, the damage appeared to be different from those of people with full-fledged Parkinson's disease," said Racette. "MRI scans also revealed brain changes in welders that were consistent with manganese deposits in the brain."


More research needed on welding fumes and health risks

"Although this study shows that these workers had dopamine dysfunction in the brain, the study authors could not determine whether this was specifically related to manganese," said W. R. Wayne Martin, MD, who wrote an accompanying editorial on the topic. Martin is with the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

"Will these individuals develop full-fledged Parkinson's disease? We can't answer that question based on the study but more research should be done to explore this possibility."


For more information, visit http://www.aan.com.

The FumeExtractor at work.

Electrocorp has designed air filtration systems for welding and soldering applications to protect workers from many chemicals and welding fumes at the workplace. The portable, powerful units capture many toxic fumes at the source and adsorb gases and chemicals in a deep bed of activated carbon, using 40 to 80 pounds of this efficient filtration media.

The units are designed for TIG, MIG and arc welding operations and feature a spark arrestor, flexible arm and optional custom carbon blends. Electrocorp also offers air purifiers specifically designed for soldering applications, including a tabletop unit with an intake hood and a smoke particle filter as well as an activated charcoal filter.


Contact us for more information.

Sick welder sues welding rod manufacturers

Welding fumes pose a risk to human health.

One of the many dangers of welding is breathing in harmful fumes – but who is responsible when workers get sick?

Manganese poisoning (also known as manganism or “welders’ disease”) is caused by excessive exposure to the chemical element manganese (Mn), which is an essential component in iron and steel production. The disease is sometimes mistaken for Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, or multiple sclerosis.

Manganese poisoning has been the subject of a number of product liability suits brought by welders who claim that manufacturers failed to warn that their products could cause welding fumes to contain dangerously high manganese concentrations.


Iowa welder suffered manganese poisoning

Curt Cooley, a welder in Iowa who used welding rods at work and at home for nearly 40 years, was diagnosed with manganese poisoning and now suffers from permanent neurological damage. After learning of his diagnosis, Mr. Cooley and his wife brought suit against four welding rod manufacturers: Lincoln Electric Co., Hobart Brothers Co., The ESAB Group Inc., and BOC Group Inc. (Cooley v. Lincoln Electric Co., No. 1:05-cv-17734-KMO (N.D. Ohio Mar. 7, 2011)).

Mr. and Mrs. Cooley alleged that the defendant-manufacturers knew that inhaling welding fumes presented a risk of irreversible neurological injury but failed to adequately warn consumers of the risk. A jury returned a verdict for the Cooleys, awarding $787,500 in compensatory damages (after a reduction for Mr. Cooley’s comparative fault) and $5 million in punitive damages. The manufacturers moved for reduction of the punitive damages, arguing that the award violates constitutional due process.


Courts reject manufacturers’ claims

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio rejected the manufacturers’ argument that Mr. Cooley’s harm “could be worse” because he did not die from the manganese exposure. In the context of Mr. Cooley’s severe and permanent neurological injury, the court said, the physical harm he suffered strongly indicated reprehensibility.

The court also found that the second reprehensibility factor was present – the jury was entitled to conclude from the evidence that the manufacturers knew manganese in welding fumes could cause neurological damage, but chose to give “less-than-candid” warnings on their products in order to protect their profits.

In evaluating the remaining reprehensibility factors, the court found that the defendants misled welders and that their behavior went beyond mere negligence. The court also rejected defendants’ argument that Mr. Cooley’s injury could be described as an “accident” that might have been avoided if he had read the manufacturers’ warnings and data sheets in the last decade of his career.


Partial responsibility can’t get companies off the hook

While Mr. Cooley was found to be partially responsible in this regard, and his compensatory award was adjusted accordingly, the court found that defendants had to accept responsibility for their behavior over the course of Mr. Cooley’s entire four-decade use of their products.

Manganese exposure is cumulative, and Mr. Cooley’s failure to read materials in the last 10 years had nothing to do with defendants’ actions in the first 30 years of his career – actions which the court found could be reasonably construed as evidence of defendants’ “intentional malice.”

Editor’s note: This article has been edited for length.

Source: Natalie Blazer, Product Liability Monitor.

Electrocorp manufactures fume extracting air filtration systems with a source capture device and deep bed of activated carbon that can remove many harmful chemicals, gases, fumes and odors at the source.

Contact us today for more information.

Welding hazards: Protect yourself from welding fumes and soldering fumes

Most welders know they should protect themselves from the toxic fumes and gases produced in the welding process. According to the Center to Protect Workers’ Rights, the hazards of welding depend on the

•    welding method,
•    welding rod,
•    filler metals and base metals,
•    paints and other coatings on the material and
•    ventilation.

Safe Solder series

Harmful weld fumes can be released by metals, coatings, residues and solvents. Shielding gases like argon can displace the oxygen and be downright deadly, if they are allowed to accumulate around the indoor work station.

When it comes to choosing the right air purifier or fume extractor for welders, an industrial-strength activated carbon and HEPA filtration system has been proven to counteract harmful toxins and particles.

Electrocorp’s specially designed Fume Extractor Series features portable, powerful units that capture many toxic fumes at the source, directly at the work station. They adsorb gases and chemicals in a deep bed of activated carbon, using 40 to 80 pounds of this efficient filtration media.

Fume Extractor LD450

The units are designed for TIG, MIG and arc welding operations and they feature a spark arrestor, flexible arm and optional custom carbon blends. Electrocorp also offers air purifiers specifically designed for soldering applications, including a tabletop unit with an intake hood and a smoke particle filter as well as an activated charcoal filter.

Air purifiers by Electrocorp can easily be modified and converted to purify the air in any industrial and commercial environment where chemical and odor control is a main concern.

Contact us today to speak to one of our air quality experts.

New alloy gives welders a less toxic choice

A new chromium-free, nickel alloy invented by Ohio State University engineers gives welding professionals a safer option when doing their job.

According to the press release, the alloy is a welding “consumable” – the material that melts under the welder’s torch to fill the gap between parts that are being joined. It is more expensive compared to other alloys on the market, but it promises to lessen welders' risk of breathing toxic fumes in tight spots with less-than-ideal ventilation.

When the new alloy melts, it does not release hexavalent chromium into the air.

Toxic fumes a problem in welding profession

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets limits on workers’ exposure to hexavalent chromium in welding fumes, which affect welders themselves and their surrounding coworkers. Reduced exposure to such toxic fumes requires either extreme ventilation or use of a chromium-free consumable.

The Center to Protect Workers’ Rights has warned that stainless steel contains nickel and chromium, which can cause asthma. Nickel and chromium 6 can cause cancer, while chromium can cause sinus problems and “holes” between the nostrils.

Electrocorp has developed a series of effective source-capture air purification systems, including the Fume Extractor series and SafeSolder series, to help remove toxic fumes from the welders' environment.