User Guide

SAFETY ISSUES 2
Welders have to be comfortable and properly protected. Of
course, it’s important to protect against heat, sparks and arc
burn. However, metal oxides, metal particles and gases
produced in some of these operations may result in serious
respiratory hazards to workers.
3M offers a full line of products that can help protect
workers against head injuries, eye injuries, hearing loss and
certain airborne contaminants.
Fumes
Metal creates fumes, which are tiny metal oxide particles
formed when metal vapors cool.
Metal Fume Fever
Breathing unsafe levels of fumes can result in metal fume
fever from welding on:
• Galvanized metal with zinc coating
• Cadmium, copper or magnesium
Workers may experience sweating, shivering, nausea, fever,
aching muscles, weakness, fatigue and a loss of energy and
appetite.
1,2
Gases
Gases are given off during many different welding
operations. Above certain concentrations, these gases,
including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and ozone
can irritate the nose, throat and eyes and damage lungs.
Ultraviolet light from the arc can react with oxygen in the
air to form ozone. Other sources of hazards are electrode
fluxes, shielding gases and metal treated with paint, oil or
other protective coatings.
There are many potential health hazards related
to welding and other metalworking jobs
Hearing Protection
Many welding and welding-related applications create noise
that can result in hearing loss if workers are unprotected over
a period of time. Proper use of hearing protection helps
reduce the risk of hearing loss due to noise.
Eye Protection
Welding operations present distinct eye protection needs.
Those who work in these jobs have to be protected against the
welding arc as well as particles and debris that are produced.
Because of these hazards the use of ANSI Z87.1-2003
compliant safety glasses must always be worn under welding
shields.
Head Protection
Certain 3M
™
Speedglas
™
Welding Shields meet ANSI Z89.1-2003
for head impact protection. They are lightweight and well
balanced.
Comfort
Workers must feel safe and comfortable on the job or their
productivity may suffer. That’s why all 3M products are
innovatively designed with worker comfort in mind.
1. Documentation of TLVS and BEIS, American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienists, 7th. edition, 2004.
2. Clayton, G.D., Clayton, F.E. Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology.
Vol II New York. John Wiley and Sons Inc., 1994.
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