| WELDING
ROD FUMES
Have you been exposed to
fumes from welding rods?
Welding joins pieces
of metal by the use of heat, pressure, or both. Welding
is amongst the most dangerous industrial activities.
Among the dangers of welding are fire safety, electric
shock, compressed gases, toxic fumes, and personal protection
for the eyes, hands, feet, and body. Welding requires
an enormous degree of precautionary planning because
the risks of personal injury from any mistake are extremely
high. Science is just discovering the danger of the
toxic fumes associated with welding. Fumes are a natural
by-product of welding, and are expected from even simple
welding operations. Even simple welding work should
require the use of respiratory protection or ventilation.
Simple operations lead to fumes like carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxide, and ozone. But extra precautions must
be taken if you are welding metal coated with or containing
zinc, cadmium, chromium, copper, fluoride, lead, manganese,
or vanadium, because the resulting fumes can cause a
condition known as metal-fume fever. Another serious
concern working with metal that has been coated or painted.
Many of the paints that have coated metal are lead based
which is a know carcinogen. Exposure to welding smoke
has serious short-term and long-term health effects
and often causes lungs, heart, kidney, and central nervous
system problems.
If
you believe that you may have suffered from working
in the welding industry please explore our site to learn
more about the health effects of welding and your legal
rights.
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