22 Oct Welding Fumes

Exposure to toxic and carcinogenic heavy metal fumes, from welding activities, can negatively impact the health of workers across industry so it is important to provide those at risk with a safe place & safe systems of work. One of these systems is called Health Surveillance and is provided to regularly assess if they have been exposed to these substances. This is provided at no cost to the workers.

Heavy metal contamination from welding fumes can accumulate in the body over time with a gradual decline in a worker’s health.  

Respiratory protection & the provision of filtered air supplies to workers is a good start, but routinely monitoring the contaminants levels in workplace can determine the actual exposure risk.

Maintaining good workplace hygiene reduces the opportunity to ingest contaminants, & by providing a laundry service and showering facilities, we reduce the risk of taking contaminants from a work to a non-work environment, such as in the family vehicle, on public transport, or in the home.

A no smoking policy at work, with a healthy eating program is good for workers’ health & fitness – reducing the risk of workers inhaling heavy metal contamination from their fingertips when lighting up. Eating healthily increases their levels of calcium, potassium, iron, vitamins to the exclusion of hazardous elements.

Monitoring workers’ health, through annual spirometry, chest X-Ray, Chrome 6, manganese, cadmium, lead testing & skin examinations, lets us know if the controls in place are effective.

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Call HAY Safety today to find out how we can help you

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