Health and Safety WL0 Advice for managers

1 This information will helpmanagers of welders,solderers and other hotmetal workers comply withthe Control of SubstancesHazardous to Health Regulations 2002(COSHH), as is also useful for trade union work is any process that generatesflames, sparks or series includes guidance for welding,soldering, cutting and surface sheet describes good practice forcontrolling exposure to welding andcutting fume, fume (which includes irritating gases such as oxides ofnitrogen and ozone) can cause irritation and 'metal fume fever'. In thelonger term, it can lead to lung diseases, and increase the risk ofoccupational asthma and cancer. Fume and dust from allied processescan cause lung disease and occupational asthma. Abrasive blastingproduces a great deal of dust that includes metals, metal oxides andmay contain respirable crystalline silica. There is an increased risk oflung situation is different. The risk depends on the process, the metal,the rod and flux, surface contaminants, and where the task is done.

2 Can you use alternative joining, cutting or surface preparation methodsthat produce less fume or dust? Get Safety data sheets - can youselect safer consumables?ActionBy getting the Advice , you have assessed the Health risk. But beforeacting, make sure the Advice really fits your situation. Following all theadvice means that you will normally comply with Workplace ExposureLimits. Read the Advice in each of the sheets you it with what you do may already have the right controls in place, but are they allworking properly? When were they last checked? Are they always usedwhen needed?You need to keep all controls in good working order. This meansmechanical (eg extraction, respirator), administrative (eg supervision, Health surveillance) and operator (following instructions). Look at allaspects of the Advice . Don t pick and choose - the points worktogether to provide adequate control . See sheet G406 for Advice onengineering that control is being sustained keep good need to carry out Health monitoring (see sheet G401 or for rosin-cored solders, G402).

3 If you are in doubt, seek expert help. Remember, just because theadvice means that you have to change old working practices or spendHealth and Safety ExecutiveAdvice for managersCOSHH essentials for welding, hot workand allied processesWL00 Welding, hot work and allied processes WL0 Advice for managers money on new controls, that doesn t make it unsuitable! Decide howbest to make any changes required across the board .If you do need expert help, please don t give up. Ask your tradeassociation, trade union, or log onto FacilitiesProvide clean facilities; a washroom, showers, storage for clean andcontaminated work clothing, and a refreshment area. Provide coverallsthat do not retain , training and supervisionTell workers that fume and dust from welding and allied processes cancause lung disease, which leads to disablement and early death. Thereare also risks of asthma and and supervise workers - you need to make sure they are doingthe job in the right way, and using controls properly to reduce theirexposure as low as possible.

4 Include supervisors and managers inhealth and Safety should include: how to use the controls and how to check that they are working; how to maintain and clean equipment safely; how to use and look after personal protective equipment (PPE); and what to do if something goes wrong. Remind workers to check any respiratory protective equipment (RPE)every time they put it means checking workers: use the controls provided; follow the correct work method; turn up for Health surveillance; and are following the rules on personal also need supervision. Find out if they are bringinghazardous substances on site, and how they will protect your workersfrom guidelinesReleases may be regulated within the Pollution Prevention and Control(PPC) framework. Your local authority or the Environment Agency willadvise you if PPC applies to your company, and about air cleaning anddischarging Scotland, consult the Scottish Environment Protection Agency(SEPA).

5 For more information, see hazards inthis industryHot workHeat stressFlash-backSparksGas leaks (fuel gas, inert gas,oxygen)NoiseElectrical hazardsUV radiation (eyes andexposed skin)Manual handlingWork near chlorinateddegreasing tanksWork at heightWork in confined spacesSlips and tripsWelding, hot work and allied processes WL0 Advice for managers Published by the Health and Safety Executive 04/06 This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following theguidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action. But ifyou do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to complywith the law. Health and Safety inspectors seek to secure compliancewith the law and may refer to this guidance as illustrating good essentials for welding, hot work and allied processes: Advice sheetsGeneric sheetsWL1 Workshop ventilationWL2 Forced ventilationWL3 Fixed extraction: Welding booth or downdraught benchWL4 Moveable extraction: Fume hood on a flexible armWL5 Respiratory protective equipment (RPE)WL6 RPE used with forced ventilationWL7 RPE used with engineering controlsWL22 Expert adviceSpecific task sheetsWL8 Oxy-gas welding and brazingWL9 Manual metal arc (MMA) or stick weldingWL10 Metal inert gas (MIG) and metal active gas (MAG) weldingWL11 Tungsten inert gas (TIG) weldingWL12 Flux-cored arc (FCA) and metal-cored arc (MCA) weldingWL13 Resistance (spot) welding: Fixed equipmentWL14 Gas and oxy-gas cuttingWL15 Arc-plasma cutting.

6 Fixed equipmentWL16 Arc-air gouging (air-carbon arc gouging)Allied processesWL17 Soldering: Hand-held with lead-based, rosin-cored solders WL18 Surface preparation: Pressure blasting (small items)WL19 Surface preparation: Pressure blasting (medium-sized items)WL20 Surface preparation: Pressure blasting (large items)WL21 Weld cleaning with pickling past