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Welding fumes and forced positions make welding a job that can have long-term negative effects on health. Unfortunately, the risks are still underestimated and welders are often exposed to great dangers. Companies may be afraid that the cost of properly protecting their workers is too high. They associate protective measures with extra work or complicating the welding process. But are these concerns justified? And what are the best options to minimize welding hazards?

The acceptance of extraction torches is still very low among welders. Many accept the harmful fumes just to avoid having to give up the familiar ease of use of their tools. The fact that a considerable progress has been made in the further development of fume extraction torches in the meantime is proven by a sports science study based on special strain tests, carried out by an independent institute. Client: ABICOR BINZEL.

You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. Every manufacturing company uses natural resources in some way and thus affects the environment. But modern companies must position themselves sustainably. Besides the ecological aspect, there is another important fact: potential skilled employees choose their employer according to its sustainability concept. Thus, if you want to keep up with the competition, you can no longer avoid the topic of sustainability. But how can a production company that uses welding technology in its processes approach the issue of sustainability at all?  

Occupational health and safety for welders should be at the top of every manufacturing company's agenda. But some employers have a difficult task in convincing their welding specialists of the best means to extract harmful welding fumes: fume extraction torches.

What exactly is the strain on a welding specialist? How can this physical strain be reduced and is it even possible to prove it? As a professor of joining technology, I get to the bottom of these questions scientifically.

The development of solutions that reduce welding fume emissions has been sought for years. But even if less fumes are produced during welding, inhaling welding fumes is fundamentally harmful to health. In fact, certain fumes can even lead to cancer of the respiratory tract with prolonged exposure. For this reason, the extraction of welding fumes is now mandatory and injuries can even lead to the shutdown of a company.  

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.

There is no question that welding fumes from MIG/MAG welding and TIG welding are extremely harmful to health. There are various options for protection against these fume gases. One of these is a fresh air ventilated welding helmet, which falls under the category of personal protective equipment. Such a welding helmet consists of a predominantly sealed head part into which fresh air is supplied. The resulting slight overpressure prevents the penetration of welding fumes. But what about all the other employees working around the welding station? That's the point. Personal protective equipment only comes into play when all other protective measures cannot be implemented.