Instructions welding work
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Instructions welding work
1) What kind of respirator do I need if I weld stainless steel?
When welding stainless steel using MIG or electrode type welding, smoke is released, which contains parts of chromium and nickel. Chromium is more toxic to the human body. A power respirator with an anti-aerosol filter will provide you with a sufficient level of protection in this case. TIG welding does not produce a large amount of welding fumes, but ozone is formed (read more in question 6). When using plasma cutting or welding, temperatures rise significantly and very dangerous nitrogen oxide can be formed (read more in question 7).
2) Do I need respiratory protection when welding ordinary steel?
Although welding fumes from ordinary steel are not very dangerous, but they are not useful for your health. Among many particles, iron oxide is present in smoke, which can cause siderosis (chronic pneumonia). When working with MIG/MAG or electrode type welding, a large amount of smoke is generated. This requires the use of respirators and ensuring the necessary ventilation of the room.
3) What type of respirators should be used when welding coated metal?
When welding coated metal, various harmful substances can be formed. When welding galvanized steel, zinc oxide is released. It can cause zinc fever. You need to be especially careful when welding painted materials - a lot of paints contain very harmful substances. When welding galvanized steel or coated materials that contain lead, it is recommended to use a power respirator with an anti-aerosol filter. If the material has a coating of two-component paint or insulated with polyurethane, you need to contact an Engineer from labor protection. In this case, there is a very high risk of exposure to isocyanates, which are very dangerous to health. In these cases, it is necessary to use respirators with compressed air supply.
4) What kind of respiratory protection should I have when working in conditions of limited ventilation?
When working in conditions of limited air ventilation (in conditions where there is a risk of accumulation of elevated levels of air pollution or a decrease in oxygen concentration), regardless of the welding method, it is recommended to use compressed air supply systems with sufficient oxygen levels and provide protection from aerosol particles and gases. However, it must be remembered that neither power respirators nor compressed air supply systems are used for protection in conditions that are Instantly Dangerous to Life and Health (MNZHZ).
5) Does the use of protective gases and alloyed electrodes affect the air quality?
When welding by MIG/TIG methods, inert gases argon and helium are used as protective gases. These gases are not considered dangerous to health, but it must be remembered that they can replace oxygen in conditions with limited air ventilation. In this case, it is recommended to use systems with compressed air supply. When welding MAG, carbon dioxide or a mixture of carbon dioxide with an inert gas is used as a protective gas. Since part of the protective gas can turn into carbon monoxide, a large amount of carbon monoxide can form around the welding site during work, which cannot be filtered. If air ventilation is insufficient, it is necessary to monitor the oxygen level in the air and use a compressed air supply system. Alloyed electrodes are used in MAG welding. They often contain manganese or silicates. This means that a large amount of manganese oxide and silicates can be formed during welding. For such cases, a power respirator with an anti-aerosol filter will provide a sufficient level of protection.
6) When is ozone formed?
Ozone is formed during aluminum welding during the interaction of UV radiation from an electric arc with oxygen. Ozone is also formed when stainless steel is welded using TIG. Filtration with absorption-type filters may be insufficient, but over time, ozone is converted back into oxygen. This process is accelerated when ozone comes into contact with a solid surface.
At low concentrations of ozone, the use of power respirators with an anti-aerosol filter significantly reduces the concentration of ozone that gets to the welder. This is due to the fact that the very large inner surface of the anti-aerosol filter and the air supply tube helps to accelerate the conversion of ozone. At elevated concentrations of ozone, the additional installation of a gas filter with a large inner surface will help to further reduce the concentration of ozone.
7) What are nitrogenous gases?
Nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide are examples of nitrogenous gases that are formed during high-ampere and high-temperature welding. Nitrogenous gases are formed as a result of the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen. High concentrations of nitrogenous gases can form in rooms with insufficient ventilation, they are very dangerous and in such conditions it is necessary to use respiratory protection systems with compressed air supply.