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Through Optimum Use and Innovation of Welding and Joining Technologies
Improving Global Quality of Life
6.2
Health, safety and environmental aspects
The health, safety and environment aspects associated with welding and other joining processes can be
classified as follows:
Physical aspects, such as risk of fire, radiation, heat, noise, electrical dangers, work environment
conditions, etc.
Chemical aspects, i.e. gases and particulate matters (fume) produced during welding and other
hazardous chemicals and substances used during all phases of the fabrication process.
Environmental aspects, such as disposal of waste (slags, packaging materials, etc.), natural resources
depletion due to ineffective use and contamination of air, land and water.
Lack of skill and knowledge of what action is required to protect health and safety is among the most basic
of these barriers. Others include cultural, political and economic pressures which may dilute the strength
of well-founded scientific conclusions as national exposure standards are set and health and safety laws are
framed by government agencies. When it comes to implementation, in some countries the self-interest of
employers and governmental indifference can, from time to time, appear to blind all parties to risks of injury,
illness or even death and obstruct the reduction of their incidence.
The IIW seeks to provide a forumwhich is recognised internationally and throughout the welding and joining
industry as a placewhere a cross-section of well-informed people from that industry and associated academic
establishments can meet, free of special interest pressures, to share their knowledge and experience. This
is done mainly through IIWWorking Units dealing with the matters of health, safety and environment, where
members are asked to consider new technological developments, to debate the validity and conclusions of
scientific reports on health and safety risks on these and established processes, to seek a consensus view
and to advise everyone in the industry on their best assessment of levels of risk and how these might be
managed most effectively and efficiently.
While there is still much to be done to achieve the ideal mix of skills in the membership, Commission VIII
already offers an opportunity for fair, free, well-informed and balanced debate and can provide a source of
soundly based advice to the industry. Moreover, the breadth of expertise is enhanced from time to time by
inviting expert contributors from other Commissions and host countries to contribute to discussions or by
organising joint meetings with other IIW Commissions or Working Units.
As a result of this process, IIW provides its members with “IIW Statements” as consensus reached among
members of its working units which can be considered as an informed point of view within the International
welding community. In addition, IIWparticipates in the standardisation process and has produced several ISO
Technical Reports on the matters of health, safety and environment in order to achieve the most widespread
contact with the international industrial world.
6.2.1
Health and safety issues of welders
Despite advances in (welding) control technology, welders are still exposed to welding fumes and gases.
The chemical composition of the particles in these fumes and gases depends on the welding processes, the
chemical composition of the filler metal and the base material, the presence of coatings, time and severity
of exposure ventilation.
Although there are many different welding processes, it has been estimated that shielded metal arc welding
(
SMAW) and gas metal arc welding (GMAW) on mild steel and aluminium are performed by 70 percent of
welders. According to the EN ISO 14001 Standard and organisations such as OSHA, possible elements of
welding fumes and related hazards include, among others, zinc used in large quantities in the manufacture
of brass, galvanised steels and various other alloys. With the welding of stainless steel, protection of the
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Needs and challenges in health, safety, education, training, qualification and certification
