[Comparative analysis on occupational hazards of three welding operations]

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Industrial Hygiene
• Materials Science

Background:

• Welding is a common industrial process with inherent occupational hazards.
• Different welding techniques produce varying levels of hazardous exposures.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for effective worker protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare occupational hazards from three distinct welding operations.
• To provide data for developing targeted personal protective equipment (PPE) strategies.
• To inform exposure assessment and health monitoring protocols.

Main Methods:

• Collected and measured welding fumes, metal elements, and welding arc radiation.
• Analyzed samples from argon gas shielded welding (JS80 wire), manual welding (ZS60A rod), and carbon dioxide shielded welding (907A wire).
• Compared hazard factors across the three welding methods in a laboratory setting.

Main Results:

• Welding fume concentrations: CO2 shielded (6.80 mg/m³), manual (6.17 mg/m³), argon shielded (3.13 mg/m³).
• Welding arc irradiance (highest to lowest): manual, CO2 shielded, argon shielded.
• Highest metal content: Manganese (Mn) in JS80 wire, Titanium (Ti) in 907A wire, Copper (Cu) in ZS60A electrode.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences exist in occupational hazards among the studied welding operations.
• Personal protective equipment, exposure assessment, and health monitoring require tailored approaches.
• Data supports the need for specific safety protocols based on welding type.