2b1ask1
Special case
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I'm sure any of you involved with welding are going through the massive campaign by the HSE ongoing regarding the latest information about mild steel being added to the list of materials discovered to produce carcinogenic fumes when welded. It seems they are also adding into that grinding as well!!!
In my industry around 10 years ago we had a similar reaction from them about CCA treated timbers when burned leading to a ban of all CCA treatment and now we have rotting timber structures collapsing as a result.
Anyway, back to welding:
It has long been established that welding galvanised or metals with zinc content is not good for you, shield gasses from arc welding can lead to pneumonia and various other metals like stainless can create fumes that are known carcinogens. Recent research however has confirmed this to be the case from mild steel too however as no quantitative exposure is established the HSE have taken it as 0 exposure rather like the CCA treatment previously.
I contract to many local authorities and know that the first of them will be emailing tomorrow with a statement of requirements to be met before I can undertake any 'hot works' for them. That is it, no lead time or prep time, just a blanket stop! I know that they have 3 x welding sets at various depot they occasionally have to use and they will be got rid of now.
Almost all of the welding/grinding I do is outdoors but it seems I will need to spend the thick part of £1k on a new welding mask/forced air respirator setup to be able to complete my current workload.
Is anyone in the business of supplying such kit that can arrange a group buy or deal?
Oh and I'm also going to need to get some welding screens to fill the van a bit more too!
It is getting harder to make an honest crust innit?
In my industry around 10 years ago we had a similar reaction from them about CCA treated timbers when burned leading to a ban of all CCA treatment and now we have rotting timber structures collapsing as a result.
Anyway, back to welding:
It has long been established that welding galvanised or metals with zinc content is not good for you, shield gasses from arc welding can lead to pneumonia and various other metals like stainless can create fumes that are known carcinogens. Recent research however has confirmed this to be the case from mild steel too however as no quantitative exposure is established the HSE have taken it as 0 exposure rather like the CCA treatment previously.
I contract to many local authorities and know that the first of them will be emailing tomorrow with a statement of requirements to be met before I can undertake any 'hot works' for them. That is it, no lead time or prep time, just a blanket stop! I know that they have 3 x welding sets at various depot they occasionally have to use and they will be got rid of now.
Almost all of the welding/grinding I do is outdoors but it seems I will need to spend the thick part of £1k on a new welding mask/forced air respirator setup to be able to complete my current workload.
Is anyone in the business of supplying such kit that can arrange a group buy or deal?
Oh and I'm also going to need to get some welding screens to fill the van a bit more too!
It is getting harder to make an honest crust innit?