Welding air cleaner solutions available from Brown and Holmes
Following scientific evidence from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, The Workplace Health Expert Committee endorsed the reclassification of mild steel welding fume as a human carcinogen. In response, the HSE issued changes to their UK enforcement expectations to recognise that exposure to mild steel welding fume can cause lung cancer and possibly kidney cancer in humans.
All businesses, regardless of industry undertaking welding activities now need to ensure effective engineering controls are provided and correctly used to control fume arising from those welding activities including that from mild steel welding. Employers are therefore expected to be classified as seriously putting staff at risk should welding activities take place without the recommend use of extraction equipment to remove fumes from the workplace.
Air cleaners for welding are now available from Brown and Holmes as part of our UK distribution agreement to supply MistBuster extraction units. These additional overhead, portable and ambient welding fume extractors remove welding smoke and fumes from the surrounding air.
- Overhead source capture air filtration systems are the recommended industrial hygiene approach to controlling welding fumes. Source capture arms are positioned to draw the contaminants away from the breathing zone at the source, thus minimizing the amount of air required. These source capture arms are articulating, with 360 degree manoeuvrability for maximum versatility.
- Portable air filtration systems are ideal for applications which vary greatly from one part to another making it impractical to adjust the location of fixed capture arms. Three types of quality portable air filtration systems are available: Electrostatic Precipitators, Disposable Media and Reverse Jet Cartridge Dust Collectors.
- Ambient (sometimes referred to as general background) air cleaners work well for dispersed welding stations. Overhead ducted filtration systems provide the advantages of source capture while conserving expensive floor space. Also remember the importance of proper placement of the source capture arm to welding arc.
To discuss which air cleaner option is most suitable for your welding activities, please contact the Brown and Holmes team on tel: +44 (0)1827 63591 or by emailing info@brownandholmes.co.uk.