Everyone could see that: In recent years, the limit values for welding have been constantly reduced, which poses great challenges for those responsible for health protection and occupational safety for welding specialists in manufacturing companies. A simple principle – the so-called STOP principle – serves as a good guide to compliance.
Reduce welding current load
"S" stands for substitution. The first thing to check is whether it is possible, for example, to reduce the welding current load by using pulse welding instead of DC welding. Unfortunately, this alternative is rarely possible.
Use fume extraction torches
"T" stands for technology. Using extraction torches instead of standard welding torches prevents the dangerous fumes from entering the welders’ respiratory tract in the first place. With this so-called extraction at the source, welding fumes are absorbed at their point of origin directly at the front of the process, discharged, the harmful particles are filtered out and the cleaned air is released back into the environment. Another positive effect of extraction at the source: all people working in the vicinity of the welding specialist are also protected from the welding fumes. Extraction torches are therefore the preferred measure for health protection in the workplace.
Organisational changes
"O" stands for organisation. The consideration may be whether the welding specialist can carry out another less straining activity, but this is usually not worthwhile.
Personal protective equipment
"P" stands for personal protective equipment and usually means wearing a welding helmet with ventilation, which protects the welder from the exposed fumes. And that is exactly the problem: The welding fumes are not absorbed at the point of origin, as is the case with local extraction, and get into the respiratory tract of all people working in the vicinity of the welding specialist. Personal protective equipment in the form of ventilated welding helmets should be the last option for health protection.
The use of fume extraction torches or fume extraction systems that enable extraction at the source is ideal for the occupational safety and health protection of welders.
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