Occupational Health Concerns in the Welding Industry

Abstract

The Workplace Safety and Health Branch initiated a proactive study in the welding industry in Manitoba. Eight welding companies participated in this study. Health concerns raised by welders were welders' flash, sore/red/teary eyes, headaches, nosebleeds, and a black mucous discharge from their nasal membrane. Most welders expressed concern regarding excessive smoke levels in the workplace and inadequate ventilation. Types of welding identified were MIG mild steel, MIG stainless steel, and TIG aluminum. Monitoring involved an assessment of noise levels, fume composition, and carbon monoxide and ozone concentrations. Metal analyses were according to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 7300. Noise dosimeters used were the Quest model 100 and Micro 14 & 15. Carbon monoxide was monitored using the Gastech Model 4700 and ozone using the AID Portable Ozone Meter Model 560. In Manitoba, a hearing conservation program is required when the equivalent sound exposure level (normalized Lex 8-hr) exceeds 80 dBA-weighted. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists' threshold limit value-time weighted average (ACGIH TLV-TWA) for iron is 5.0 mg/m3, manganese is 0.2 mg/m3, carbon monoxide is 25 ppm, and ozone is 0.05 ppm (heavy work), 0.08 ppm (moderate work), and 0.1 ppm (light work). Welders' personal exposures to manganese ranged from 0.01-4.93 mg/m3 (N = 42; AM = 0.5; GM = 0.2; SD +/- 0.9; GSD +/- 3.2) and to iron ranged from 0.04-16.29 mg/m3 (N = 42; AM = 3.0; GM = 1.4; SD +/- 3.5; GSD +/- 2.5). Noise exposures ranged from 79-98 dBA (N = 44; AM = 88.9; GM = 88.8; SD +/- 4.2; GSD +/- 1.0). Carbon monoxide levels were less than 5.0 ppm (at source) and ozone levels varied from 0.4-0.6 ppm (at source). Ventilation upgrades in the workplace were required in most welding shops. Only 7 percent of the welders wore respiratory protection. A hearing conservation program and hearing protection were required at all monitored workplaces.

Workplace Noise Exposure After Modernisation of an Aluminium Processing Complex

“…However, noise remained a problem at some workplaces. Our results are comparable with working conditions in most modern aluminium factories in the world (24,25).…”

“…A research in four aluminium foundries in the US and seven in Canada confi rms that it is diffi cult to eliminate excessive noise from these workplaces (25,26). Noise levels were also successfully reduced in the anode plant.…”

Immunotoxicology of arc welding fume: Worker and experimental animal studies

“…In the assessment of a construction site, Meeker et al (2007) observed total welding particulate concentrations to range from 2.65-11.6 mg/m 3 in settings without local exhaust ventilation, and 3.15-5.44 mg/m 3 where local exhaust ventilation was used. Airborne fume concentration levels of individual metals in eight welding companies that mostly performed GMA-MS welding were measured by the Workplace Safety and Health Branch in Manitoba, Canada (Korczynski, 2000 . Moreover, 62% of the welders studied were reportedly exposed to levels of Mn that exceeded the ACGIH TLV-TWA of 0.2 mg/m 3 .…”

Pharmacokinetics of pulmonary manganese absorption: evidence for increased susceptibility to manganese loading in iron-deficient rats

“…divalent metal transporter 1; iron metabolism; manganese toxicity; lung metal absorption NEUROTOXIC EFFECTS OF MANGANESE due to occupational airborne exposures are well documented. Workers exposed to high concentrations often display a Parkinson's-like disorder called manganism (24,25,31,35). More recently, concern has been raised over the potential consequences of chronic low-level airborne exposures due to the introduction of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), a gasoline additive (3).…”