Fumes & Gases

Safety and Health
Fact Sheet No. 1 October 2003

© 2003 American Welding Society
Fumes and Gases
• Depending on material involved ranges

INTRODUCTION from irritation of eyes, skin, and
respiratory system to more severe
Many welding, cutting, and allied complications.
processes produce fumes and gases,
which may be harmful to your health. • Effects may occur immediately or at
some later time.
DEFINITION
• Fumes can cause symptoms such as
• Fumes are solid particles which nausea, headaches, dizziness, and
originate from welding consumables, metal fume fever.
the base metal, and any coatings
present on the base metal. • The possibility of more serious health
effects exists when highly toxic
• In addition to shielding gases that may materials are involved. For example,
be used, gases are produced during the manganese overexposure can affect
welding process or may be produced by the central nervous system resulting in
the effects of process radiation on the impaired speech and movement.
surrounding environment.
• In confined spaces the gases might
• Acquaint yourself with the effects of displace breathing air and cause
these fumes and gases by reading the asphyxiation.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
for all materials used (consumables, HOW TO AVOID OVEREXPOSURE
base metals, coatings, and cleaners).
• Keep your head out of the fumes.
• For help, consult a recognized
specialist in Industrial Hygiene or • Do not breathe the fumes.
Environmental Services.
• Use enough ventilation or exhaust at
• The amount and composition of these the arc, or both, to keep fumes and
fumes and gases depend upon the gases from your breathing zone and
composition of the filler metal and base general area.
material, welding process, current level,
arc length, and other factors. • In some cases, natural air movement
provides enough ventilation and fresh
POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF OVER- air.
EXPOSURE
AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect,
consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this Safety and Health Fact Sheet.
AWS also makes no guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.
Fact Sheet No. 1 — 10/03 Page 1

• Where ventilation is questionable, use American Conference of Governmental
air sampling to determine the need for Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Threshold
corrective measures. Limit Values for Chemical Substances and
Physical Agents and Biological Exposure
• Use mechanical ventilation to improve Indices, available from ACGIH, 1330
air quality. Kemper Meadow Drive, Cincinnati, OH
45240-1634 (telephone: 513-742-2020;
• If engineering controls are not feasible, web site: www.acgih.org).
use an approved respirator.
American Welding Society (AWS). Fumes
• Work in a confined space only if it is and Gases in the Welding Environment
well ventilated, or while wearing an air- and other welding related safety and health
supplied respirator. Fumes from publications, available from Global
welding or cutting and oxygen depletion Engineering Documents, 15 Inverness
can alter air quality causing injury or Way East, Englewood, CO 80112-5776
death. Be sure the breathing air is (telephone: 800-854-7179; web site:
safe. www.global.ihs.com).
• Follow OSHA guidelines for permissible Mine Safety and Health Administration
exposure limits (PELs) for various (MSHA). Code of Federal Regulations,
fumes. Title 30 Mineral Resources, Parts 1 to 199,
available from the U.S. Government
• Follow the American Conference of Printing Office, Superintendent of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh,
recommendations for threshold limit PA 15250-7954 (telephone: 202-693-9400;
values (TLVs) for fumes and gases. web site: www.msha.gov).
• Have a recognized specialist in For specific information, refer to the

Industrial Hygiene or Environmental applicable Material Safety Data Sheet
Services check the operation and air (MSDS) available from the manufacturer,
quality and make recommendations for distributor, or supplier.
the specific welding or cutting situation. TLV is a registered trademark of the ACGIH.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA). Code of Federal
Regulations, Title 29 Labor, Parts 1910.1
to 1910.1450, available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office,
Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box
371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
(telephone: 800-321-6742; web site:
www.osha.gov).
AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect,
consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this Safety and Health Fact Sheet.
AWS also makes no guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.
Fact Sheet No. 1 — 10/03 Page 2

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Safety and Health

Fact Sheet No. 1 October 2003

Fumes and Gases

• Depending on material involved ranges

Fact Sheet No. 1 — 10/03 Page 1

• Have a recognized specialist in For specific information, refer to the

Occupational Safety and Health

Fact Sheet No. 1 — 10/03 Page 2

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