When it comes to metal processing plants and the paint industry, one thing that remains constant is that both have a workforce that knows all too well about the hazards of industrial fumes. Welding fumes and the fumes generated during paint processing are harmful to human health, especially the respiratory system.

What are welding fumes?

It is a common trait in the industrial sector around the globe where the workforce is made aware of the intricacies of operational safety in factory settings during their training period.

It should be kept in mind that welding fumes are a hazardous cocktail of particulate matter and gases that when inhaled through the mouth and nose can make a worker seriously ill. The most particulate matter that comes out as a by-product during the welding processes is categorised in an inhalable fraction (100 µm).

How welding fumes affect the respiratory system?

Apart from the suspended particulate matters in the air, a welder’s health is also at risk from the hazardous concoction of gases that comes out a by-product during welding processes. The harmful gases mainly consist of argon and carbon dioxide that is the result of the solvent and chemicals present in the workpiece reacting with atmospheric air.

If the welder keeps on inhaling the fumes in an unchecked way, the risks of suffocating due to excess carbon dioxide increases by many folds. Apart from suffocation, long-term exposure to welding fumes can also damage the respiratory system as a whole and can even lead to cancer.

Key benefits of installing a fume extractor

Here are a few key benefits of a fume extractor:

• Fume extractors make sure that the ambient air quality within the industrial plant is at par with the standards put forth by NIOSH, COSHH, HSG258, OSHA

• It helps in maintaining an ideal environment for safe execution of manufacturing processes

• It also helps in maintaining the operational costs of the plant low by keeping surface damage and contamination of equipment by particulate matter in check

Easy Maintenance guide for a fume extractor

It is important to keep a fume extractor under regular inspection to make sure that the same is performing at its best. To keep the system operating in its optimal efficiency, it is recommended to periodically replace the scrubbers and filters.

It ensures that the ambient air of the factory is clean and the health of the workforce is at their prime. Word to the wise, replacement filters should be bought from genuine manufacturers as generic filters might bring down the efficacy of the entire system.

Industrial processes are bound to create fumes that are harmful to the workforce as well as the equipment within a plant. Industrial fumes can be either of chemical or acidic in nature both when kept unchecked can create severe repercussions in the long run. To keep the equipment, the corporate reputation and your workforce in prime condition, it is best to install a fume extractor within a factory setting as soon as possible.