bornfree Posted March 14, 2019 Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 after welding MMA MIG TIG and gas for over 30 years ive now been informed by the HSE thats its dangerous and we need ventilation and masks. and this is just repair welding not production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 14, 2019 Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 But it is dangerous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted March 14, 2019 Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 (edited) 12 minutes ago, bornfree said: after welding MMA MIG TIG and gas for over 30 years ive now been informed by the HSE thats its dangerous and we need ventilation and masks. and this is just repair welding not production. hello, we had air extractor fans years ago in a large engineering workshop, there are specific face masks for welding fumes, we often had to weld out doors so it was just the masks Edited March 14, 2019 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted March 14, 2019 Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 repair welding is often more dangerous than welding new stock ...because of the adertives in the older paints............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted March 14, 2019 Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 I had to pack up industrial welding years ago because the fumes where making me really bad. started working in scrap yards out side fresh air then I got bloody lead poisoning so much for fresh air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted March 14, 2019 Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 3 hours ago, bornfree said: after welding MMA MIG TIG and gas for over 30 years ive now been informed by the HSE thats its dangerous and we need ventilation and masks. and this is just repair welding not production. More information needed before we can help you. Was this a formal audit finding by the HSE themselves, or just a private company brought in to assess you? Or did you receive a leaflet through the post? Fume extractors are cheaper than they used to be.... I would agree that for full-time fabrication these days an air-fed mask is pretty standard, indeed most larger customers will insist on it if you want their work. What kind of 'repair' work are you doing? If you're TIGing small assemblies on a bench that's a different use case to stick welding galavanised* farm equipment outside. In all this, remember that PPE is considered the 'last line of defence'. Half the battle with this QHSE stuff is knowing the appropriate language to use, and how to respond to these people. Getting defensive and using the phrase "common sense" will get people's backs up immediately. *Yes, I know, the fumes are toxic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu64 Posted March 14, 2019 Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 I've been welding on and off for 30 odd years with no bother. 18 months ago i had to go to A+E with very high blood pressure and chest pain.I had tests for heart attack etc but the tests were clean. Off work for 2 weeks while visiting the doctor and hospital for more tests. The symptoms eventually went and then some weeks later returned, which coincided with me welding again. I had welders fever, well documented but it was a new one on me. If you Google it the symptoms are wide ranging and damage to you can be very bad. If you don't use a filter mask or air fed mask, and haven't had it I think you've been very lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornfree Posted March 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2019 7 hours ago, udderlyoffroad said: More information needed before we can help you. Was this a formal audit finding by the HSE themselves, or just a private company brought in to assess you? Or did you receive a leaflet through the post? Fume extractors are cheaper than they used to be.... I would agree that for full-time fabrication these days an air-fed mask is pretty standard, indeed most larger customers will insist on it if you want their work. What kind of 'repair' work are you doing? If you're TIGing small assemblies on a bench that's a different use case to stick welding galavanised* farm equipment outside. In all this, remember that PPE is considered the 'last line of defence'. Half the battle with this QHSE stuff is knowing the appropriate language to use, and how to respond to these people. Getting defensive and using the phrase "common sense" will get people's backs up immediately. *Yes, I know, the fumes are toxic... http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/mild-steel-welding-fume.htm It is because of this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 Seeing as welding is fusing mild steel, what about other steelworkers like blacksmiths or foundry workers. Plenty work with hot metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 (edited) 16 hours ago, bornfree said: http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/mild-steel-welding-fume.htm It is because of this Jebus, I was unaware of this. Looks like the HSE have completely knee-jerked and reacted over the top as a backside covering exercise, with very little consideration or guidance given with respect to implementation of its new diktat. Seriously, despite the poor reputation the QHSE profession has in this country, and the perceived MO of the HSE, this is poor even by their standards. Edited March 15, 2019 by udderlyoffroad SPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 I was a welder, and the stuff i used to blow out of my nose was horrible, and when i was working round the country the older welders used to cough their lungs up morning noon and night.I decided to get out of the welding game. Now i do reports on LEV systems, you know the things that suck up the air from welding areas and car exhausts etc, it is an eye opener how much fume there is and how it can hang around while you breath it in if the system is not designed and used correctly. One set of lungs people, look after them, an air breating mask doesn't cost that much these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 my boss informed me of this the other week. moaned like hell about having to spend more money on stuff that will probably sit in corner of store room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted March 15, 2019 Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 Welding fumes are bad for you, you'd have to be really thick not to see that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornfree Posted March 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2019 1 hour ago, Big Mat said: Welding fumes are bad for you, you'd have to be really thick not to see that I will consider myself thick then. Many thanks for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted March 16, 2019 Report Share Posted March 16, 2019 5 hours ago, Big Mat said: Welding fumes are bad for you, you'd have to be really thick not to see that all depends in stick/ mig / tig welding indoors or outdoors etc a lot of welders do not suffer from colds or flues dew to heavy metals in their system about the same as taking colloidal silver or gold / and zinc to help your immune system however after job changes / retirement somewhere after two weeks their body cleanses and end up with a stinking flue virus end up in bed a virus cannot live with heavy metals however some people get crook with certain jobs and some don't some smoke some don't and still get lung cancer some have worked in the building industry back in the day using asbestos cutting with a stihl saw stood in a cloud of dust got crook and some did not hse are doing the right things for the workers what price do companies put on the lives of their employees ??????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 16, 2019 Report Share Posted March 16, 2019 http://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/videos/video8.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 On 15/03/2019 at 06:30, figgy said: Seeing as welding is fusing mild steel, what about other steelworkers like blacksmiths or foundry workers. Plenty work with hot metal. we had air fed masks when I was at the foundry, had a filter in the helmet, air was fed through a pump at the back of the helmet with a battery pack that clipped to a belt. this was only introduced within the last year I was there, regular blood tests showed we were all getting lead poisoning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 I've worked in heavy industry oil gas petro chem etca and various fabrication shops and sheds a lot since serving my apprenticeship. Welders got the air fed masks in some places we got crappy bumble bee masks even the good fitted ones after a few minutes the alloy nose band gave way and steamed your goggles. Wonder what **** I e breathed in over the last three decades and what if any damage done. Rpe has become a lot better and enforced more over the last few years. All to the good I say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted March 20, 2019 Report Share Posted March 20, 2019 (edited) hello, try welding galvanised steel they thought giving you a pint of milk would help Edited March 20, 2019 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 Galv flue, not nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 21, 2019 Report Share Posted March 21, 2019 10 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said: hello, try welding galvanised steel they thought giving you a pint of milk would help Our Welders still get their pint a day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted March 24, 2019 Report Share Posted March 24, 2019 had some sad news from an old mate this morning , he has cancer in both lungs , and its too far gone for any kind of treatment , he has spent the majority of his adult life working as a welder / fabricator ,( hes never smoked) , and the cause is down to welding fumes. hes an old lloyds welder , and could weld just about anything , including welding tank turrets , and welding underwater. up until a few years ago , he was a very keen fieldsportsman , and loved nothing better than using ferrets to bolt rabbits to the gun, and frying a couple of rabbits for his tea at the end of the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted March 24, 2019 Report Share Posted March 24, 2019 48 minutes ago, mel b3 said: had some sad news from an old mate this morning , he has cancer in both lungs , and its too far gone for any kind of treatment , he has spent the majority of his adult life working as a welder / fabricator ,( hes never smoked) , and the cause is down to welding fumes. hes an old lloyds welder , and could weld just about anything , including welding tank turrets , and welding underwater. up until a few years ago , he was a very keen fieldsportsman , and loved nothing better than using ferrets to bolt rabbits to the gun, and frying a couple of rabbits for his tea at the end of the day. Very sad Mel. Sounds like a true character. I do wonder about the effect all these things in our workshop could effect me in later life. The place is full of dust and chemicals and the use of modern adhesives must not be good for all of us using them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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