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Read MoreFriday, March 29, 2019
Change in Enforcement Expectations for Mild Steel Welding Fume
This is update is applicable to all workers, employers, self-employed, contractors’ and any others who undertake welding activities, including mild steel, in any industry.
There is new evidence available that identifies that exposure to all welding fume, including mild steel welding fume, can cause lung cancer. There is also limited evidence linked to kidney cancer.
Because of this, there has been a change in HSE enforcement requirements in relation to the control of exposure to welding fume, including fume from mild steel welding.
When completing any welding activities, employers must ensure effective engineering controls are in place and correctly used to control fume arising from the welding activities.
Where engineering controls are not adequate to control all fume exposure, further controls, must be implemented in the form of adequate and suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
The following points, must be considered when selecting and before wearing the selected RPE
There have been reports of fake PPE bought and sold on the internet
It is a legal requirement that workers using tight fitting respiratory protective equipment (face pieces/masks) must be fit tested by a competent person.
This may, in some cases require you to use a combination filter to protect against particles/chemicals/gases
Further information is available by following the links below
Selecting Respiratory Protective Equipment
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg53.pdf
Select a PPE supplier, registered through the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF)
http://www.bsif.co.uk/find-a-member/
Further information on weld fume and controls
http://www.hse.gov.uk/welding/fume-welding.htm
Find a Fit2Fit Accredited tester
https://www.fit2fit.org/find-a-tester/
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