Welding Fume

Risk Assessment

Health and safety regulations require employers to carry out an assessment of the risks to the health from hazardous substances present in the workplace. A suitable and sufficient risk assessment is required wherever exposure to welding fume is likely to occur.

Where there are five or more employees a written copy of the risk assessment should be provided and employees should always be informed of any significant findings from the assessment process.

Understanding when employees and others may be exposed to welding fume is important when conducting a risk assessment. All potential sources of exposure should be identified as well as who is likely to be exposed, and for how long.

The following factors should be considered during the assessment process as they are likely to have an impact on employee exposure to welding fume:

• welding process, volume of work and level of fume generated
• size of the component being welded
• welding position i.e. flat, horizontal, vertical or overhead
• metal being welded (mild steel, stainless steel, etc.) and consumable being used
• where the welding is taking place i.e. indoors, outdoors or in a confined space
• existing measures in place to control fume e.g. local exhaust ventilation (LEV), respiratory protective equipment (RPE), mechanical general ventilation.

Further information for employers on how to conduct a risk assessment is available within the HSE publication A step by step guide to COSHH assessment.