OSHA Controls for Weld Fume Management
When you take a proactive approach to providing a clean, comfortable and compliant work environment, not only will you attract and retain valuable talent but there’s a good chance you’ll experience better weld quality and improved productivity.
Where should you start? Having the air quality in your welding environment assessed to understand the level of airborne contaminants is the first step. Based on those results, you can determine an effective action plan that follows OSHA’s hierarchy for weld fume control.
Miller® and ITW welding products help make it easier and less complicated by offering solutions at every level of the OSHA hierarchy.
Assess Your Air Quality
How do you know if you need to take action?
The first step is to have a certified industrial hygienist perform a worksite analysis to find out what jobs and work stations are potential problems and make recommendations to correct those areas. The hygienist will then test the air in your facility to make sure contaminant levels fall within exposure limits outlined by OSHA or other applicable government occupational limits, whichever is lower.
Any time there is a change to the worker, process or facility, retesting should be conducted to ensure exposure concentrations have not been affected.
Determine Your Action Plan
Based on the results of your air quality and worksite assessment, you may need to implement controls to create a cleaner, more comfortable work environment and decrease compliance risks.
To determine your action plan, follow the OSHA hierarchy for weld fume control. To make this process easier and more efficient, Miller and ITW welding products have solutions for every level. Contact a Miller Safety Solutions Manager to help guide you through your next steps.