According to OSHA (occupational Safety and Health Administration), exposure to welding fumes can cause serious health problems for employees if inhaled. Welding fumes contain gases such as helium, carbon-dioxide and argon. These gases displace oxygen and can pose suffocation risks to employees, particularly those who work in enclosed areas.
Short-term exposure to welding fumes can result in nausea, dizziness, eye irritation, nose and throat irritation. Prolonged exposure to welding fumes can lead to cancer of the lung, larynx and urinary tract, as well as nervous system and kidney damage.
Good ventilation systems have been used by many companies to remove toxic fumes and dusts from the workplace in order to provide employees with a healthy working environment.
Cleaner air is usually achieved by installing ventilation fans on the roof of buildings or building-walls to dilute contaminated air in the building with fresh air. This helps in reducing the level of fumes and dusts generated in the building.
Benefits of Ventilation Systems in the Workspace
a. It ensures continuous supply of fresh air.
b. It protects employees from heat stroke.
c. It reduces the exposure to airborne contaminants.
d. It prevents explosion and fire outbreak.
e. It reduces the risk of short and long-term health risks of fumes and dust.
While ventilation may provide several advantages in maintaining a cleaner air environment, its benefits are limited to employees not involved in the welding processes. The welding operator has little benefit as he/she is still exposed directly to the fumes.
Best Solution for Air Cleanliness in Welding Spaces
The best solution for air cleanliness in welding spaces is At-source extraction. This method of extraction captures fumes, dusts, air impurities and contaminants at the source where they are generated by using Nederman extraction arms which extracts the fume and then transports the welding fume dust to a dust collector system or into atmosphere.
At-source extraction method is therefore beneficial to employees who are directly exposed to welding fumes and those who are not. It ensures continuous availability of fresh air for all employees that are present in the workspace.
Nederman Products for At-Source Welding Fume Extraction
Our products for at-source fume extraction include;
Nederman Original Arm
Nederman original arms are designed for use where flexible and easy-to-use arms are needed in removing welding fumes and dusts. It is the perfect solution for extracting welding smoke, fumes and dust in workspaces. The arms is suspended by a swivel, which allows it to rotate 360 degrees. This makes the extraction arm flexible in all directions and very simple to position.
Nederman Original arm supplied by Envirox can be mounted in combination with different brackets, extension arms, on exhaust rails or on fixed or portable filter equipment. It is equipped with a damper in the hood as standard.
Nederman original arms capture fumes at the very source where they are generated, providing safe working environment and meeting occupational Safety and Health Administration standards (OSHA).
Nederman Nex MD Arm
Nederman NEX MD is designed for workplaces that generate heavy smoke, vapours or non-explosive dust, while also providing a perfectly balanced and easily positioned extraction arm.
Nederman Nex MD Arm is a high air flow and low pressure drop extraction arm that is perfect for all forms of welding fumes irrespective of the temperature, nature and volume of fumes generated. This functionality is made possible by its specially designed hose and external arm system. It provides higher airflow and higher temperature media extraction than conventional arms.
Our Nex MD can also be mounted in combination with different brackets, extensions arms or on exhaust rails.
FMC Dust Collector
Nederman FMC dust collector is designed to capture and filter dry dusts and fumes. It is suitable for continuous operation in industrial process filtration, fume and dust collection applications.
Nederman FMC dust collector supplied by Envirox is highly effective in removing welding fumes and dusts from the environment, thereby facilitating continuous supply of clean air.
Nederman FMC dust collector has been independently tested with ATEX compliant features for explosive dusts.
Envirox is your best option for products that meets OHSA standards and ensures safe healthy working environment.