Welding Fume Exposure and Ventilation

Why it matters

That plume rising off your weld is vaporized metal, and your lungs are the filter if ventilation is not. Welding fume causes metal fume fever short term and lung damage long term, and stainless work adds hexavalent chromium to the mix. Galvanized coatings add zinc, and welding near degreasers can create toxic gases. OSHA requires ventilation for welding in enclosed spaces. Today: get your head out of the plume and air moving through the work.

Hazards

• ⚠ Breathing the plume directly by working with your head over the weld
• ⚠ Welding galvanized steel: zinc fume fever with chills and aches
• ⚠ Stainless welding producing hexavalent chromium
• ⚠ Enclosed and confined spaces concentrating fume fast
• ⚠ Coatings, paints, and residues burning off into toxic smoke
• ⚠ Fume drifting to helpers and nearby trades

Controls and safe practices

• ✓ Position yourself upwind or beside the plume, never over it.
• ✓ Use local exhaust: fume extractor arm or gun, positioned within a foot of the arc.
• ✓ Mechanical ventilation for welding indoors and in enclosed areas per 29 CFR 1926.353.
• ✓ Grind off galvanizing and coatings at the weld zone before burning, or use rated respiratory protection.
• ✓ Stainless and long indoor sessions: respirator per the site respiratory program.
• ✓ Keep helpers and other trades out of the plume path or ventilate to protect them.
• ✓ Metal fume fever symptoms (chills, fever, aches after welding) get reported, not toughed out.

Crew discussion questions

1. What metal and coatings are we welding this week?
2. Where is the fume extractor, and does it actually reach our work?
3. Which of our weld locations count as enclosed spaces?
4. Who has felt fume fever symptoms and what were you welding?

Applicable OSHA standards

29 CFR 1926.353, 29 CFR 1926.55

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