The HSE are responding with a safety alert following a scientific report delivered by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This paper identified that exposure to mild steel welding fume can cause lung cancer, and contribute to the onset of kidney cancer in humans. Please note that this notification follows on from numerous reports over the past few years which have recognised the gaseous hazards associated with all welding type fabrications.
Controls to implement
As definitive guidance, the HSE is expecting to see suitable controls which protect all employees in the working environment when they visit engineering premises.Ref; http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/mild-steel-welding-fume.htm. These follow the hierarchy of risk reduction measures with engineering solutions identified as the priority;
- For all indoor welding activities install the correct specification of Local Exhaust Ventilation equipment (LEV). This means that extraction rates are sufficient to cover all anticipated working schedules (e.g. full operating capacity to lower work rates) and the system is maintained appropriately with records kept.
- Where LEV equipment is not sufficient, or for outdoor welding procedures, appropriate Respiratory Protection Equipment (RPE) is specified for operators, with suitable checks and records maintained.
It’s not just mild steel welding which can generate hazardous fumes, similar activities involving stainless steel, hard facing or where there are surface contaminants such as paint requires the use of adequate fume extraction and operator protection.
How can Newmac Ltd help?
The team at Newmac Ltd are competent in reviewing existing risk assessments and helping your business to comply with the HSE’s requirements. This includes a full service offering, with support provided for interpreting the results from specialist air monitoring providers through to selection and fitting of RPE. In addition, regular reviews of all site based risk assessments demonstrates to a HSE inspector that you consider health and safety as a priority for your management time.
Contact: Mike Whiting by email mike.whiting@newmac.org.uk for further an initial discussion.
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