occupational lung disease

Video highlights welding fumes health and safety issues

Jamie Hailstone

The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) has highlighted the dangers of welding fumes in a new health and safety video.

The video has been produced as part of the HSE’s “Go Home Healthy” campaign and features BCGA chief executive Doug Thornton, talking about the dangers of occupational lung disease.

“We hope this video goes someway to getting the message across that welding fumes can permanently and severely affect health and foreshorten life, but it needn’t do,” said Mr Thornton.

“Welding, brazing and cutting are essential processes in the manufacturing industry and all these processes depend crucially on industrial gases.

“However, precautions should be taken to avoid the inhalation of welding fumes, not only by operatives doing the welding, brazing and cutting, but by others working nearby too.”

The BCGA’s website contains a dedicated area for welding matters, which includes links to its safety alert on the hazards of welding fumes.

“A safe and healthy working environment features good fume extraction or local exhaust ventilation, supported where appropriate by the best available PPE, such as air masks, to protect welders and their colleagues,” added Mr Thornton.

“Unfortunately, too often we see that whereas the welder himself is protected by such, other workers operating or walking close by are not suitably protected or trained.

“Employers, their safety managers and welders themselves should be aware of the legal responsibilities to provide a safe working environment and to adequately train personnel in best operating practices.”

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