Exposure to these fumes or UV radiation can increase your risk of developing melanoma of the eye, lung and other cancers. Your cancer risk from welding depends on: the type of welding process used. the material being welded (including any surface coatings or metal treatments)
Both acute and chronic health risks are associated with welding fume. Occupational lung disease, including lung cancer, is the most common health risk, but welding can also affect the eyes and skin.
Welding fumes are far worse for you than smoking. Any time you weld you should be wearing a respirator with appropriate filters to the situation or even an approved fresh air supplied mask with an approved supply of fresh air(NOT off your shop compressor, it contains oil).
Breathe Freely.
When welding in confined spaces, toxic fumes may accumulate, or shielding gasses may replace breathable air. Use an exhaust hood to remove fumes from the area and ensure enough clean breathing air is available.
Exercise Regularly
Welding isn't a sedentary job, so you won't suffer the same health risks as workers who sit at desks in offices. However, that doesn't mean you are immune to chronic work-related conditions.
Cons of the Welding Profession
Welders may experience some dangers and discomfort on the job including burns, eye discomfort, exposure to hazardous materials and a lot of physical effort. You may find yourself in tight spaces, working in hot weather or welding in wet and cold environments.
Prolonged exposure to welding fume may cause lung damage and various types of cancer, including lung, larynx and urinary tract. . Health effects from certain fumes may include metal fume fever, stomach ulcers, kidney damage and nervous system damage.
Welders are at an increased risk of developing welding-related lung diseases. Welders are more likely to develop pulmonary fibrosis, a severe lung disease when they work with highly toxic gases and metals. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease that causes scarring of the lungs.
Hazards from gas welding and brazing differ from arc welding hazards primarily because they involve metals with lower melting points. One such metal is lead. Overexposure of male workers to lead compounds is known to decrease the sexual drive and reduce the ability to produce healthy sperm.
Pneumosiderosis, or more commonly referred to as Welder's lung, is an occupational lung disease that occurs after chronic inhalation of iron dust particles, especially in welders.
However, cross-sectional and case studies have associated exposure to welding fumes with higher blood pressure (BP) (10), impaired cardiac autonomic function (11), decreased heart rate variability and ectopic heartbeats (12), as well as damage to human coronary artery epithelial cells (13).
7 – It's a Relatively Low-Stress Job. Most of the time, being a welder is a pretty low-stress job. Sure, there will be times when work gets stressful, but this is usually the exception rather than the rule. Welding isn't a terribly mentally taxing job, either.
Welding can have an impact on your body over time. This can be reduced by using proper welding supplies — without proper equipment, you run the risk of damaging your body, hands, eyesight and more. As you weld, you'll often have to put your body in positions that will cause soreness or strained muscles.
Welders provide necessary services to various industries, including manufacturing, transportation and infrastructure. Working in a high-demand field can be beneficial, as it guarantees stable employment and higher wages because the skills of the trade are highly valuable to employers.
Avoid or reduce exposure. Use local exhaust ventilation (LEV) to take the fume away at source. Use suitable respiratory protective equipment (RPE), for example a facemask, to protect workers from inhaling fumes.
The most common acute effect of exposure to intense welding fume is called Metal Fume Fever with symptoms similar to the common flu: chills, low-level fever, fatigue, nausea, sore throat, body aches, and pains usually lasting 24 hours.
Researchers have discovered that welders develop symptoms of parkinsonism — a general term referring to disorders that cause movement problems that resemble those of Parkinson's disease — because of prolonged exposure to manganese, a chemical element from welding fumes.
Numerous studies indicate that welders may be at increased risk of neurological and neurobehavioral health effects when exposed to metals such as lead, iron and manganese. Carbon monoxide, heat and stress can also contribute to neurological impairments in welders.
In many cases, welders work in shifts. For our welder, he works the evening shift, which is typically 10 hours per day, four days per week. He'll clock in upon arrival at the worksite, place personal items such as jackets, hats, bags, and lunches into a secure locker, and then change into protective gear.
How many hours do welders work? Welders work for 38-40 hours a week on average with possibilities of shift work and overtime.
While it is true that some jobs that could only be performed by a human are now overtaken by automation and robots, welding will not become obsolete by any means. Welding is a complex craft that has unique challenges that technology can't solve on its own.
The future of welding jobs could be brighter than predicted
As mentioned, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a three-percent growth in welding jobs over the next ten years, which is in line with the average for all occupations.
Career benefits as a professional, experienced welder include: Decent Wages—A career in welding can bring you a steady and sizable paycheck. Though the hourly wage for welders varies by industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean hourly wage for a professional welder is $19.89.