by Natalie Edwards

Worried about the air quality in your workshop and what WorkSafe might say? Here's one thing that will get a big tick of approval from WorkSafe AND your welders. Once you try it, you won't look back!

 

If you manage or work in, a metal fabrication workshop you're probably aware of the dangers of welding fumes and air contaminants lurking in the workshop. No one wants their workers to get sick, and no one wants to be shut down by WorkSafe for having unsafe working conditions.

To learn more about air quality H&S regulations click here.

Welding fumes can be highly toxic, hence WorkSafe's crackdown on proper workplace ventilation and RPE. Here's a quick recap of some of the health effects of exposure to toxic workshop fumes:

Eye, nose, throat and lung irritation - symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, bronchitis, fluid in the lungs, and inflammation of the lungs.

  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Metal Fume Fever
  • Temporary reduced lung function
  • Pneumonia
  • Occupational Asthma
  • Cancer
  • Death

For more information on the dangers of welding fumes click here.

So what's this magic solution?

Magic solution might be a bit of an overstatement. This won't solve ALL your air quality issues, but it will get a big tick of approval from WorkSafe while keeping the workers happy!

Ever tried a positive pressure welding helmet?

Yes, they might look a bit more bulky than your average half mask with filters, but if you're welding fairly regularly, these are WAY MORE COMFORTABLE! Here's why:

  • A powered air respirator keeps cool, filtered air flowing into the helmet. This is the first major benefit any welder will notice. Once they try it, they won't want to go back.
  • Loose fitting. That's right. You don't have to practically glue a mask to your face to protect yourself from fumes. Because there's more pressure inside the helmet than outside, positive pressure helmets work to push any fumes and particles away from the face if there are any gaps around the helmet.
  • Looks. Ok so this isn't so much about comfort. We're talking beards. For those who like to maintain that bit of facial hair, a positive pressure helmet will still keep you safe. This doesn't mean you can grow a beard as large as Santa's, (you'd have trouble getting the helmet to fit over that) but you don't have to be clean shaven.

Why does WorkSafe recommend them?

Because they provide MAXIMUM protection! ...and workers tend to be more willing to wear them.

  • Positive pressure pushes the bad stuff away from the face.
  • Filters keep the bad stuff out of the air fed into the helmet.
  • They don't just protect your lungs! A good powered air respirator should:
  • Have high to extra high impact protection on the helmet.
  • Include lens with UV and high impact protection.
  • Provide clear vision to eliminate the need to lift the lens.
  • Ability to change the lens for different shade requirements; and/or
  • Room to wear safety glasses or goggles underneath.

But wait, there's more...

If keeping workers happy and safe, and getting the tick from WorkSafe isn't enough, there's another bonus to using positive pressure helmets.

Increased productivity! Yes, it's true. Workshops that have adopted positive pressure helmets have noticed increased productivity because workers are more comfortable, and can do their jobs easier.

So there you have it. If you'd like to trial a positive pressure helmet in your workshop, we'd recommend a TECMEN welding helmet.