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HEALTH SAFETY & THE ENVIRONMENT
found in many other industries such as electroplating, chemicals and in primary industry
due to airborne particles caused by crushing and grinding of ores containing chromium
and manganese. Like asbestos, these particles could travel long distances and affect the
community at large. It was also considered a cause of chronic bronchitis in welders due to
fine ingredients of chromium and nickel in welding fume from welding stainless steel.
15
As a result, IIW was faced with sometimes conflicting evidence in the literature,
including inconsistent conclusions along with limited data on biological processes that
might result in given health outcomes. Together with the complex nature of mixtures of
fume components, these issues required remarkable insight by the group members. This
lack of corroboration of absolute proof is as relevant today as it was in the late 1990s when
C-VIII was to take on in greater earnest its remit to resolve the complex issues of health and
safety in welding and to advise industry on the ways and means of solving these issues, or
reducing risk to negligible levels.
IIW was fortunate in the appointment of McMillan as Chair of C-VIII
in 1997. McMillan was an occupational physician and became an Honorary
Senior Lecturer in Occupational Health at the University of Birmingham
(UK). In addition he had the distinction of being an Honorary Physician
to Her Majesty the Queen from 1996 to 2004. He was, therefore, well
versed in the medical aspects of OHS in conjunction with fine leadership
characteristics and a determination to resolve the intertwined nature of the
health issues that faced the welding industry. His chairmanship started a
move by C-VIII to a much closer relationship with other Commissions and
with the welding world.
Prevention rather than proof was more important at this stage and C-VIII was to
work consistently in the development of best practice documents that improved the working
environment of welders and reduced the element of risk to their health and safety. The first
of these was a statement on
Welding and Cutting Containers
followed in quick succession
by
Welding Adds Hazards
to
Work in Confined Spaces
and
Health Hazards
from Exposure to
Electromagnetic Fields in Welding
.
16
The final two documents produced during McMillan’s
first term of office were aimed specifically at health issues and included
Fume Composition
Related to Welding Processes and Consumables
and
Welding with Non-Consumable
Thoriated Tungsten Electrodes
.
17
These best practice statements came from debate and
discussion between the members of the Commission and often included details sourced
from scientific papers.
McMillan was to express his feelings with regard to C-VIII. ‘Wouldn’t it be
wonderful for there to be a forum which was recognised internationally and throughout the
welding and joining industry as a place where a cross-section of well-informed people from