Options for exposure determinations include initial and periodic exposure monitoring and/or the use of objective data.
Osha breathing zone manual#
The Agency finds that this limit will substantially reduce the significant risk of material health impairment to which manual metal arc or oxy-acetylene welders of iron, mild steel, or aluminum were previously exposed in the absence of any OSHA limit.OSHA requires employers to determine Cr(VI) exposures to employees. In the final rule, OSHA is establishing a TWA of 5 mg/m 3 for these particular types of welding fumes, measured as total particulate inside the welder’s breathing zone. OSHA concludes that a PEL for welding fumes is needed to protect workers involved in the welding of aluminum, iron, or mild steel from the significant risk of metal fume fever and respiratory irritation associated with the generation of welding fumes. Accordingly, OSHA believes it would be premature to identify these fumes as potential occupational carcinogens. In response to these commenters, OSHA notes that there are few data sufficient to establish a dose-response for the fumes. James Melium, of the New York State Department of Health (Tr. 8-47) stated at the hearing that welding fumes should be designated as a carcinogen. This is consistent with a past OSH Review Commission decision Secretary of Labor v. OSHA wishes to clarify that welding fume is to be measured in the breathing zone of the welder the specific details of the appropriate positioning of the sampler should be determined on the basis of guidance in the Field Operations Manual (OSHA 1984). 3-860), were of the opinion that OSHA’s discussion of welding fumes in the NPRM was not clear with regard to whether the limit applied to exposure samples taken inside or outside of the welding helmet. 9-155 to 9-156), and the American Welding Society (Ex. Several commenters, the American Iron and Steel Institute (Exs. In addition to fume fever, exposure to welding fume may damage the small airways, causing interstitial pneumonia (Abraham 1983). Recovery usually requires one or two days of time away from work. This disorder, which results from exposure to freshly formed metal fume, results in the appearance of delayed, flu-like symptoms, including dyspnea, coughing, pains in muscles and joints, fever, and chills. It has been estimated that 30 to 40 percent of all welders have experienced metal fume fever at some time (Abraham 1983, in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, W.N. 634).Įxcessive exposure to welding fume can cause a variety of disorders, most notably metal fume fever. Eighteen different substances, including fluoride, manganese, silicon, titanium, and sodium and potassium silicates, have been measured in the fumes resulting from the welding of mild steel (ACGIH 1986/Ex. Aluminum welding may generate fumes consisting of fluorine, arsenic, copper, silicon, and beryllium (NIOSH 1975h and American Welding Society 1974, both as cited in ACGIH 1986/Ex. The welding of iron metals may give off fumes of manganese, silicate, and various organic binders. Welding fumes consist of metallic oxides generated by the heating of metal being welded, the welding rod, or its coatings.Īlthough these types of welding generally produce fumes consisting of aluminum, iron, or zinc oxides, other toxic gases may also be produced in large amounts (Ferry and Ginther 1952/Ex. This limit applies to the total fume concentration generated during the welding of iron, mild steel, or aluminum the fumes generated by the welding of stainless steel, cadmium, or lead-coated steel, or other metals such as copper, nickel, or chrome are considerably more toxic and shall be kept at or below the levels required by their respective PELs. OSHA proposed an 8-hour TWA of 5 mg/m 3 for these fumes this limit is established in the final rule. The ACGIH has set an 8-hour TWA of 5 mg/m 3 for these welding fumes, measured as total particulate in the welder’s breathing zone. OSHA formerly had no limit for exposure to welding fumes, which are defined as fumes that are generated by the manual metal arc or oxy-acetylene welding of iron, mild steel, or aluminum. Circuit Court of Appeals and the limits are not currently in force.ĬAS: None Chemical Formula: Not available
OSHA comments from the JanuFinal Rule on Air Contaminants Project extracted from 54FR2332 et.
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