Page 44 - OHS, FebruaryMarch 2023

WELDING Occupational Health Hazards in the Welding Industry Welders may be at risk for certain health hazards. Luckily, there are ways to mitigate them. BY ALEX SAURMAN When welding, either as a full-time job or every once in a while as part of another occupation, workers can be exposed to multiple hazards that present serious concerns. In the past, OH&S has addressed the need for welder PPE, like hearing protection and eye protection, to protect workers from these hazards. But welders are exposed to metals and chemicals that pose additional risks. These workers can suffer a range of health effects, from more mild effects, such as throat irritation or occupational asthma, to more severe effects, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).1 Understanding what health risks welders may face is the first step to preventing them. Welder’s Anthrax Identified just last year, welder’s anthrax is “pneumonia in a metalworker caused by bacteria within the B. cereus group that produces anthrax toxin,” as defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).2 Although it is rare, it can cause serious problems. One 2022 study found that from 1994 to 2020, six welders and one metalworker had welder’s anthrax. They all shared some commonalities: “abnormal chest radiographs,” pneumonia and) hospitalization. If the person survived, they were moved to the intensive care unit.3 Over 50 percent of people experienced “fever or chills,” a hard time breathing (known as dyspnea) and blood when coughing (known as hemoptysis). Broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment was given to everyone, and raxibacumab, a treatment used for inhalational anthrax caused by a specific type of bacteria, was only given to one. Of the seven, only two survived, including the person who was given raxibacumab. Although data on work and worker demographics were limited, it is known that of the two people who were diagnosed in 2020, one person worked on A36 mil carbon steel on an oil tank roof using a shielded metal arc welding process. The other worked on low-carbon mild steel in a wood fabrication shop using Metal Inert Gas.4 The seven cases’ demographics included six men and one woman, six people who were welders and one who was a metalworker, a median age of 39 and four people who worked in Texas and three in Louisiana. So how can employers protect welders from this rare but serious disease? The hierarchy of controls. As always with the hierarchy of controls, we’ll start at the top. Elimination and substitution controls recommended by NIOSH include “using a less toxic welding type or consumable” and “ensuring that welding surfaces are free of any coatings, dirt, and dust that may lead to potentially toxic exposures.” Next is engineering controls. To move fumes from the area, utilize “general and local exhaust ventilation,” even when welders are working outside. Under the administrative controls, OSHA recommends the following: ■ “Workplaces should be routinely cleaned with a vacuum equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or wet cleaning methods. ■ Compressed air and dry sweeping or brushing should not be used. ■ Dust control programs in outdoor workplaces and near workplaces open to the outdoors can minimize dirt and dust exposure, and activities in the immediate vicinity should be limited to help minimize disturbing dry dust. In surrounding areas, adding water, hydroscopic compounds or surfactants to roadways and surfaces that are heavily traveled can help control dirt and dust–––. However, these substances should not be applied in the immediate area where welding occurs as this may cause an electrocution hazard.” Finally, at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls, PPE should be considered. There is a variety of PPE that welders can use to protect themselves, like respirators, welding helmets, coveralls, foot protection, hearing protection and more.5 Cancer The process of welding includes exposure to fumes and ultraviolet radiation, both of which were categorized as a Group 1 carcinogen in 2017 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).6 What does this mean? In IARC’s words: “There is enough evidence to conclude that it can cause cancer in humans.” One study found that 10.8 percent of the studied 12,845 male welders from 1991-2010 had at least one form of cancer. The study also looked at 87,460 occasional welders, or those who “potentially or occasionally” weld as part of a job, and calculated that about 10.2 percent of these workers were also diagnosed with cancer.7 Overall, the statistics reveal that in this study, a higher ratio of welders was diagnosed with cancer than occasional welders. This idea remains consistent when looking at specific cancers themselves. Of the welders, 265 were diagnosed with lung cancer compared to 1,625 occasional welders. Comparing these numbers to the total number of each class of welders in the study, 12,845 welders and 87,460 occasional welders, shows that 2.1 percent of welders experienced lung cancer while only 1.9 percent of occasional welders did. Mesothelioma affected 0.12 percent of welders and 0.05 percent of occasional welders; stomach cancer affected 0.35 percent of welders and 0.26 percent of occasional welders; and bladder cancer affected 0.78 percent of welders and 0.59 percent 44 Occupational Health & Safety | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023 www.ohsonline.com ■