Welders v Suppliers of Welding Equipment and Supplies

DO YOU QUALIFY? Do you believe you have a welding fume related injury? CLICK HERE

Harm Caused by Welding Fumes Is Receiving Greater Recognition

The Dugan Law Firm is investigating possible legal actions on behalf of welders who have been harmed by the gases and metal fumes created in the welding process. These actions may be filed against various parties, including the companies that provided the welding equipment and supplies, to recover for the welder's injuries. Inhalation of metal fumes may produce four types of lung disease: chemical pneumonitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, occupational asthma, and metal fume fever. Exposure to welding fumes has also been linked to various forms of cancer and the early onset of Parkinson's disease.

Metal fume fever may be the most common adverse reaction to welding. Symptoms of metal fume fever usually occur several hours after exposure and include a metallic or sweet taste, chills, thirst, fever, muscle aches, chest soreness, fatigue, gastro-intestinal pain, headache, nausea and vomiting. The symptoms usually subside within one to three days of exposure with no residual effect.

There are various kinds of pollutants generated by welding processes. The toxins produced depend on several factors, such as the welding technique, coatings on the electrodes, and the composition of the material to be welded. Certain welding fumes contain significant amounts of chromium, manganese, and nickel, and traces of other metals. Beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and zinc are specifically listed as potential toxins by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).

The following is a list of some of the many dangerous substances that welders may be exposed to.

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide at high concentrations can act as an asphyxiant.

Carbon monoxide

Overexposure to carbon monoxide can cause drowsiness, headache and nausea. If the exposure is sufficiently severe, unconsciousness may occur.

Nitrogen oxides

Nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide are frequently formed by the direct combination of oxygen and nitrogen in the air surrounding the arc or flame. Exposure to oxides of nitrogen may not always produce immediate effects, but may result in fatal excessive fluid in the lung tissues some hours after the exposure stops.

Ozone

Ozone is formed only in small amounts in manual metal arc welding (MMAW) and gas welding. It is, however, produced in significant amounts in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) when welding with argon, especially when high amperages are used. Ozone is very irritant to the upper respiratory tract and lungs and its effects may be delayed.

Phosgene

The toxic gas phosgene is not a normal component of welding gases, but it can be formed when welding is carried out in the presence of solvent vapors escaping from a nearby degreasing tank or when solvent is left behind after degreasing. Exposure to phosgene produces, after a latent period of several hours, irritation of the respiratory tract or perhaps serious lung damage. Phosgene was used as a poisonous gas in the first world war.

Phosphine

Phosphine is generated when steel coated with a rust-proofing compound is welded. High concentrations of phosphine gas are irritating to the eyes, nose and skin. There may also be serious effects on the lungs and other organs.

Cadmium

Cadmium may be present as a coating in certain materials being welded. Cadmium oxide fume on inhalation may cause acute irritation of the respiratory passages, bronchitis, chemical pneumonia or excessive fluid in the lung tissues. There may be a latent period of several hours between exposure and onset of symptoms. A single exposure to a very high concentration of cadmium oxide fume may be fatal. Chronic cadmium poisoning results in injury to lungs and kidneys.

Chromium

Chromium may be present as a coating on the workpiece, and mainly in stainless steel, hardfacing and chrome-alloy electrodes. Chromate, which can be produced when welding these materials, is an irritant to the mucosal tissue in the respiratory tract. Exposure to fume containing high concentrations of water-soluble chromium (VI) during the welding of stainless steel in confined spaces has been reported to result in both acute and chronic chrome intoxication, dermatitis and asthma.

Epidemiological studies and animal tests have confirmed certain chromium (VI) compounds as occupational carcinogens. These health risks were determined from non-welding occupations.

Cobalt

Cobalt is a component in some high-strength, high-temperature alloys. Inhalation of cobalt fumes can cause shortness of breath, coughing and pneumonitis. Hypersensitivity appears to be involved because lung changes occur at low incidence and are varied in intensity and time of onset. In most cases, the symptoms disappear after exposure ends.

Fluorides

Welders may be exposed to fluoride dust, fume and vapors from certain MMAW, flux cored arc welding (FCAW) and GMAW operations and submerged arc welding (SAW) fluxes. Fluoride fumes may produce irritation of the eyes, throat, respiratory tract and skin.

Iron

Most welding involves ferrous materials. The most abundant constituent of ferrous alloy welding fume is iron oxide. Long, continued exposure to such welding fume may lead to the deposition of iron oxide particles in the lungs. The technical name for this is siderosis and it is a benign form of pneumoconiosis. Siderosis tends to clear up when the exposure to metallic particles stops.

Lead

Potential lead exposure occurs during welding and cutting of any metal coated with lead or lead-based paint. Occupational lead poisoning may affect the blood, gastro-intestinal tract and nervous system.

Manganese

Potential exposure to manganese occurs whenever this metal is used in electrode cores and coatings or in electrode wire. Exposure to fume from welding on manganese steel may give rise to acute inflammation of the lungs. Chronic manganese poisoning, characterized by a severe disorder of the nervous system, has been reported in welders working in confined spaces on high-manganese steels.

Molybdenum

Molybdenum is found in some steel alloys. Molybdenum fumes may produce bronchial irritation and moderate fatty changes in the liver and kidneys.

Nickel

Nickel is a potentially carcinogenic metal found in fumes from the welding of nickel-plated mild steel, and stainless steel and high-strength low-alloy steel electrodes. Nickel oxide has been found to be carcinogenic in laboratory animals. There is, however, very little direct information on the health effects of nickel-bearing welding fume on welders.

Vanadium

Vanadium may be present in some filler wires and special alloy steels. Exposure to oxide fume, especially pentoxide (V2O5), gives rise to severe irritation of the eyes and severe throat and respiratory tract irritation and may also cause chemical pneumonia.

Zinc

Zinc may be present as a surface coating on galvanized steel. Exposure to freshly-formed zinc oxide fume may produce metal fume fever.

Do you believe you can make a claim? Click Here!