Welders. Keeping. Smart about Safety. 3M Occupational Health & Environmental Safety Division Products for Welder Safety

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1 3M Occupational Health & Environmental Safety Division roducts for Welder Safety Keeping Welders Smart about Safety A Guide to Understanding Welding Hazards and Safety Equipment

2 As a welding professional, you could be exposed to a variety of health and safety hazards. Help protect yourself with safety equipment designed for welding hazards and your comfort. There are many potential health hazards related to welding and other metalworking applications. Some of the more common hazards include: Respiratory exposure to welding fumes, gases and vapors, and grinding particles Eye and face impacts Foreign object eye injuries Arc radiation burns Noise-induced hearing loss Heat stress 3M offers a complete line of safety products that can help enhance safety and keep workers comfortable in most welding applications. Toxic Fumes and Gases Studies show that full-time welders are at increased risk of bronchitis, airway irritation, lung function changes, pulmonary infections (pneumonia), and lung cancer 1. Recent studies suggest a possible link between welding fume and nerve disorders 1. Respiratory hazards in welding can be divided into two main categories: Welding Fume The primary airborne contaminant found in arc welding is welding fume. Welding fume is a complex mixture of very small particles of metal oxides. The specific components depend on the composition of the welding electrode (stick, wire or filler rod), base metal, surface coatings and the type of shielding gas or flux. Gases and Vapors When electrode coatings, fluxes, shielding gases and surface coatings are burned or exposed to ultraviolet arc rays, they can generate potentially harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, gaseous fluoride and phosgene. Did You Know? On November 15, 2007, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a new paragraph to the existing standard 29 CFR , ersonal rotective Equipment. The new paragraph, (h) Employer ayment for ersonal rotective Equipment (E), mandates that employers provide required E at no cost to employees. For further information regarding this standard, please go to and look for Regulations. May 31, 2010 is the deadline to be in compliance with the latest change to the OSHA Hexavalent Chromium standard. Visit for more information. Whenever feasible, local and area ventilation systems should be used to remove harmful fumes and gases. However, in many cases engineering controls alone cannot reduce exposure levels adequately. In these situations, it may be appropriate to use respirators. For most welding applications, an array of respirator options exist that offer specific benefits and limitations. A summary of the most common respirator categories for welding is presented in Table Health Effects of Welding. Antonini (Health Effects Laboratory Division, NIOSH), Critical Reviews in Toxicology, The 3M Safety roducts in this catalog must be used in accordance with OSHA regulations and the User Instructions, warnings and limitations accompanying each product.

3 TABLE 1: Respiratory rotection Options for Various Welding Applications Maintenance-Free Reusable Half-Facepiece owered Air Loose-Fitting Supplied Air Reusable With Dual Airline Supplied Air Loose-Fitting AF 2 articles General Dust Metal Fume Steel/Manganese Alloys Stainless Steel/Chromium Alloys Aluminum Galvanized Steel Cadmium Lead Gases Ozone Byproducts of Combustion of Coatings Carbon Monoxide Carbon Dioxide hosgene Oxides of Nitrogen / / Assigned rotection Factor (AF) is the level of protection a class of respirator is expected to provide when selected and used properly under real-world conditions. AFs for each respirator class are listed in the table shown. To determine the maximum concentration of a substance in which a respirator can be used, multiply its AF by the exposure limit of the substance. AF ratings assume compliance with all required elements of a Respiratory rotection rogram. 3. AF = 25 for headgear classified as Loose-fitting. AF = 1000 for headgear classified as Helmets (neck sealing). No fit testing required. 4. OSHA regulations for these contaminants require the use of NIOSH class 100 particle filters (e.g. 100). 5. 3M recommended for applications where ozone and nuisance level organic vapors may be present. 3M recommended for ozone protection up to 10 times the OSHA EL or applicable government occupational exposure limits, whichever is lower. Not NIOSH approved for use against ozone. 3M recommended for relief from nuisance levels of organic vapors. Nuisance level organic vapors refer to concentrations less than the OSHA EL, or applicable government occupational exposure limits, whichever is lower. Do not use when concentrations of contaminants are immediately dangerous to life or health or are unknown. 6. The combustion of metal coatings during welding can produce a wide range of particle and vapor contaminants. Seek the advice of a Certified Industrial Hygienist or other qualified professional when selecting a respirator cartridge for these situations. The 3M Safety roducts in this catalog must be used in accordance with OSHA regulations and the User Instructions, warnings and limitations accompanying each product. 3

4 Choose the Respirator with the Features You Need 3M has a wide selection of respirators specifically designed for welding applications. Choose maintenance-free, reusable, or powered or supplied air systems with features that help make welders feel comfortable and help provide the protection they need. NON-OIL ALICATIONS OIL-ROOF ALICATIONS 8515/N /N /N /N /N Series 7500 Series-Silicone 2071/ / / C/100 Cool Flow Valve atented one-way valve for easy exhalation and cool, dry comfort. 95 At least 95% filtration efficiency 100 At least 99.97% filtration efficiency OZ 3M recommended for ozone protection up to 10X OSHA EL. Not NIOSH approved for ozone. Noseclip Standard or M-noseclips adjust easily for a custom fit plus less eyewear fogging. Carbon Filter Material Carbon layers remove many nuisance level odors for greater wearer comfort. Adjustable Buckle Straps A single tug helps provide a comfortable, secure fit. OV 3M recommended for nuisance level organic vapor relief. Nuisance levels are less than OSHA EL. N Not resistant to oil Oil proof Welding Web Unique filter media and protective layers are designed to be flame resistant as demonstrated per ASTM D (Not a substitute for a faceshield.) Cake-Resistant Filter Media Specially designed filter layers for welding applications provide longer respirator life and easier breathing. Faceseal Soft and secure, conforms closely to face for long-lasting comfort. OV/OZ OV/OZ OV/OZ NOTE: Welding can create a variety of harmful fumes and gases. When engineering controls are impractical, respirators may be required to help reduce exposures to these airborne welding contaminants. 4 The 3M Safety roducts in this catalog must be used in accordance with OSHA regulations and the User Instructions, warnings and limitations accompanying each product.

5 Arc Radiation and Eye/Face Impact Hazards According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, Nonfatal Occupational Injuries And Illnesses Requiring Days Away From Work , welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers have the highest rate of lost-time eye injuries, at 55 incidents per 10,000 full-time workers. The report shows that welders are approximately 14 times more likely to sustain an eye injury than the average worker. Arc-eye occurs when the surface of the eye is exposed to excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation usually when an arc is accidentally struck while the welding helmet is in the up position or the eyes are otherwise unprotected. Long-term over-exposure to arc radiation is linked to retinal burns, cataracts and skin cancer. Foreign body eye injuries occur when material such as dust, grinding swarf or weld spatter gets into the eye. When a particle(s) penetrates the outer layer of the eye and enters the eye it is called a penetrating foreign body. These particles or objects are usually traveling at high speed and are commonly made of metal. A penetrating eye injury can be extremely serious, leading to blindness if not detected and treated promptly. Speedglas Welding Helmets and Auto-Darkening Filters (ADFs) from 3M help reduce these and other injuries by allowing welders to keep their helmets down between welds. There are also ergonomic and possible productivity benefits due to welders not having to constantly raise and lower their shields to inspect their work. Auto-Darkening Filter options include: Various Shades and Viewing Area Dimensions Various Sensitivity Adjustments and Delay Settings MIG, Stick, TIG Solar anel Membrane-Covered Control Buttons Check out the wide variety of Speedglas welding helmets and ADFs available from 3M on the following page. 3M ClearVisor with Adflo System In light of welders increased risk of eye injuries, OSHA requires welders to wear ANSI Z compliant spectacles (safety glasses) in addition to any welding helmet. 3M s lightweight, protective eyewear can be comfortably worn with Speedglas and other welding helmets, and there are many configurations available for use in a wide range of conditions. All 3M protective eyewear features polycarbonate lenses which absorb 99% of harmful UV* from sunlight. *Not for protection from UV radiation from arc welding. 3M Lexa MinimIzeR Safety Glasses The 3M Safety roducts in this catalog must be used in accordance with OSHA regulations and the User Instructions, warnings and limitations accompanying each product. 5

6 3M Speedglas Helmet Configurations and Specialty Features S E R I E S EXHALATION VENTS SIDEWINDOWS FLEXVIEW RO TO 100 SERIES SL 9100 SERIES 9000 SERIES WITH ADFLO Variable shades 8-12 Single shade 10 and 11 Available in 7 graphic designs SUER LIGHT Exhalation vents SideWindows Improved head suspension Angle adjustment and pivot action ADFLO SYSTEM WITH FLEXVIEW AND CLEARVISOR Weighs 13 oz. Adjustable headband rice/value Comparison MSL rice Entry Application Guide Mid-Range remium 100V/ 100V Graphics SL 9100V 9100X 9100XX MMAW (Electrode) $500 MIG/Mag $ XX $ X $200 Super Light (SL) 9100V 100V Graphics $100 TIG (>10A) TIG (1A 10A) lasma (Welding and Cutting) Risk for Hidden Arc Tack Welding 100V Black Grinding 100F Black 0 100F Value Optimized Suitable Not Recommended 6 The 3M Safety roducts in this catalog must be used in accordance with OSHA regulations and the User Instructions, warnings and limitations accompanying each product.

7 Top Impacts Head impacts are among the most common injuries that occur in all industries. For this reason, industry standards have been established to help protect head impact injuries. 3M offers a line of hard hats that meet the requirements of ANSI Z , Type I Class C, E and G, which means they can be used in virtually all industrial applications. They are available with a pin-lock or ratchet suspension for size adjustment. In addition, 3M offers hard hat options specifically designed for welders: 3M Speedglas rotop System Offers an exclusive pivot mechanism that nests the welding helmet down low over the hard hat, in a balanced, secured position. The lower center of gravity helps reduce neck strain. Helmet Systems Headgear L-Series 700 and 900 These hard hat/helmets can be used with 3M owered or Supplied Air Respirator Systems. They are designed for welding operations which must have both respiratory protection and top impact protection (Z ). Assigned protection factors of 25 and 1000 x EL (depending on helmet). Some models meet ANSI Type I, II hard hat requirements. 3M recommends: 3M Speedglas Welding Helmets assembled with certain hard hat models using a Speedy Mounting Loop Model 5000 manufactured by Fibre-Metal (or Speedy-Loop). 3M Speedglas rotop System 3M Helmet L-905SG with Speedglas Welding Shield, Wideview Faceshield and Shroud Approved Hard Hat 3M Speedglas 100 Hard Hat Adapter for Speedglas 100 Helmets NR Speedglas Welding Helmet 9000 Series Approved Hard Hat 3M Speedglas 100 Hard Hat Adapter for Speedglas 100 Helmets NR Speedglas Welding Helmet 100 Series Approved Hard Hat 3M Speedglas 9100 Hard Hat Adapter for Speedglas 9100 Helmets NR Speedglas Welding Helmet 9100 Series CAUTION: Assembling a welding helmet and hard hat using components from different manufacturers or brands will void ANSI compliance (Z ) unless testing verifies that the assemblies remain compliant with the ANSI performance requirements. lease visit or call to learn the configurations that successfully meet the impact test requirements of ANSI Z and Z The 3M Safety roducts in this catalog must be used in accordance with OSHA regulations and the User Instructions, warnings and limitations accompanying each product. 7

8 Welding Seminars Attend a Local Welding Hazards Seminar to: Increase knowledge about worker safety relevant to health and safety standards and hazards affecting welders Build awareness of safety standards and employer responsibilities Help employers in their efforts to stay in compliance with OSHA regulations Seminar Topics Include: Regulation and standards summary Respiratory hazards Engineering controls Respiratory protection Arc radiation hazards Safety benefits of auto-darkening filters Noise hazards Heat stress hazards Eye and face impacts Fall protection Impact of safety on productivity Contact your local welding distributor or local sales representative for seminar details and locations. Hearing Conservation HearForce Training Free on-site employee hearing conservation training provided by your 3M Hearing Conservation (HC) Specialist. Meets annual OSHA Requirement Contact your local HC Specialist to schedule a training session HearForce Brochure (code 33265) or download from Training Materials Hearing Conservation DVD Instructional and motivational videos to encourage employees on proper use of hearing protection (code 33258) Earful of Sound Advice Employee training pamphlet on hearing protection (code 33012) Tips and Tools for Fitting and Using 3M E-A-R Foam Earplugs Earplug Instruction Booklet (code 33093) 3M E-A-R Classic Earplug oster rovides easy to understand, 3-step process for fitting Classic earplugs (code 30284) All training materials, with the exception of the DVD, can be downloaded directly from 8 The 3M Safety roducts in this catalog must be used in accordance with OSHA regulations and the User Instructions, warnings and limitations accompanying each product.

9 Noise Hazards By themselves, certain welding processes may produce hazardous noise levels. Examples include high amperage AC and carbon/arc gouging. However, most metal fabrication operations involve noise hazards, if not from welding then from ventilation equipment or some related operation, such as grinding or stamping. A variety of hearing protectors are available from 3M to help reduce hearing loss. 3M E-A-R Swerve rotector 3M E-A-R Classic Foam Earplugs 3M istonz Earplugs 3M eltor Next Skull Screws Earplugs 3M Noise Indicator NI-100 Heat Stress Occupational heat stress exposure is a serious concern, especially in extreme summer heat. Operations involving high air temperatures, radiant heat sources, high humidity, direct physical contact with hot objects, or strenuous physical activities have a potential for inducing heat stress in employees engaged in such operations. Occupational heat stress can result in costly down time and potentially life-threatening situations. 3M products that help reduce or control and evaluate the effects of heat stress include: 3M Vortex Cooling Assembly V-100 Series Used to cool air supplied to 3M High ressure Supplied Air Respirator Systems that use 3M L-Series Headgear by up to 50 F (28 C). The assembly allows the user to adjust airflow and temperature for personal comfort. Speedglas Adflo owered Air urifying Respirator Systems for Welders These systems do not allow for actual cooling of breathing air, but they do supply a continuous flow of fresh, filtered air over the welder s face, reducing stuffiness and fogging inside the helmet and helping to increase welder comfort. 3M WIBGET Heat Stress Monitor RSS-214 This product can monitor certain environmental factors that may contribute to heat stress. 3M Vortex Cooling Assembly V-100 Series with L-Series Headgear and Supplied Air System 3M WIBGET Heat Stress Monitor RSS-214 The 3M Safety roducts in this catalog must be used in accordance with OSHA regulations and the User Instructions, warnings and limitations accompanying each product. 9

10 3M SafeWaze Saturn Fall rotection SafeWaze is proud to offer the Saturn family of ANSI Z compliant fall protection. Saturn harnesses and lanyards feature Nomex coated web, which resists char and splatter up to 700 F, helping to extend product service life. The Saturn harness is designed to be lightweight and flexible for all day comfort. Saturn harnesses are available with multiple hardware configurations and connection options, so wearers can find the right harness for the job. SafeWaze Saturn Harness and Lanyard Saturn lanyards limit the maximum arresting force applied to the body in the event of a fall to less than 900 pounds, meeting the requirements as defined by OSHA and ANSI. Saturn lanyards are also available with the owerstop energy absorber which is designed to absorb the impact of a 12' freefall, making it suitable for welding applications that often require surface level tie-off. In addition, SafeWaze offers a full line of cable retractables for increased user mobility and convenience. When deciding on what type of anchor to use in a welding environment, SafeWaze recommends the use of a fabricated anchor for increased durability. For areas that consistently require fall protection, SafeWaze offers multiple fabricated fixed anchors that can be permanently installed for repeated use. For infrequent fall hazards or changing environments such as construction jobsites, SafeWaze also carries portable fabricated anchors which can be set up quickly, providing a compliant anchorage point for mobile workers. SafeWaze Anchors 10 The 3M Safety roducts in this catalog must be used in accordance with OSHA regulations and the User Instructions, warnings and limitations accompanying each product.

11 Visit our website at 3M.com/OccSafety to find more information on: Training and Tools Tech Bulletins Where to Buy MSDS What s New Subscribe to our safety newsletter And much more! For More Information In U.S. Technical Assistance Customer Care Center Internet 3M.com/Speedglas 3M.com/OccSafety In Canada Technical Assistance Customer Care Center Internet 3M.ca/safety General Offices 3M Center St. aul, MN Nomex is a trademark of E.I. Duont Company. 3M, Cool Flow, Speedglas, Lexa, MinimIzeR, Adflo, istonz, E-A-R, Swerve, eltor, Next, Skull Screws, WIBGET, HearForce and SafeWaze are trademarks of 3M Company. lease recycle. rinted in U.S.A M. All rights reserved