Welding health hazards

Welding is one of the most widely used processes for joining metal together. There is a diversity of welding methods that are used in different working conditions. Welding could be extremely harmful for human health as it emits toxic gases and small respirable particulates that are also called welding fumes. The aim of this project is the assessment of welding fumes. Achieving this aim requires identifying the hazard, assessing the risk, and minimising the risk through proper control methods. To identify the hazard, air sampling techniques will be used to capture gases and welding fumes. Four welding processes will be carried on for the fumes to be extracted and analysed. TIG, MIG, SMAW and OXY welding and data collection will be conducted through air sampling techniques. Based on the results a recommendation will be shown of the welding process and the welding rod material in terms of the least health hazards risk created. The effect of both the extraction distance and flow rate on particle size distribution and morphology was also covered.