Risk assessment and control of exposure to fume during arc welding of steel

TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 809/2004 

Graham Carter evaluates risk assessment schemes relating to fume exposure during arc welding.

Background

COSHH Regulations 2002 require that the risks to health arising from every work activity must be performed, before work commences. For welding activities, an assessment of the risks to health arising from exposure to the fume and gases must be performed and, if the risk assessment shows them to be necessary, control procedures must be put in place. In this case, control means local exhaust ventilation (LEV).

Objective

To evaluate existing risk assessment schemes by comparing fume control requirements dictated by the schemes to those determined by measurements in simulated workplace situations.