How to Avoid Welding Fumes and Gases
Welding is the process of using molten metal to join 2 solid pieces of metal together. It can be hazardous not only because of sparks and flying embers but also because of the emission of gases, especially when welding in an enclosed area. The following steps will show how to avoid welding fumes and gases.
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Instructions
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Follow Occupational Health and Safety Administration regulations regarding ventilation for confined space welding. This is the single most important means of protecting yourself from welding fumes. OSHA also requires air monitoring and storing the torches away from the welding area.
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Remove welding fumes at their source with local-exhaust ventilation in still air. The exhaust hood should be 4 to 6 inches from the fume source, but a respirator also can be used if adequate ventilation is not possible. Use an air blower to blow the fumes away from you when welding outdoors, especially if the wind is towards you.
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Use the safest welding method that will do the job. Stick welding requires a shielding gas and therefore produces much less fume than flux core welding, which frequently does not use a shielding gas.
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Weld with rods that extract welding fumes. This type of welding rod can capture 95 percent of the fumes from the welding rod. This is critical because 90 percent of the total fumes produced in welding come from the rod.
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Remove all paints and solvents from the metal's surface before welding, as required by OSHA regulations. You should only weld on clean, bare metal.
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