FACTS

1. Illnesses caused by welding fumes and gases include:

• Pneumonia.
• Occupational asthma.
• Cancer.
• Metal fume fever.

2. Fires and Explosions. Fires and explosions are two of the main hazards associated with welding and other hot work activities.

3. Electric Shock. During the arc welding process, live electrical circuits are used to create a pool of molten metal. Therefore, when welding, you are at risk of experiencing an electric shock. Electric shock is the most serious hazard posed by welding and can result in serious injuries and fatalities.

Welders at risk in electrically hazardous conditions.

• In damp conditions.
• While wearing wet clothing.
• On metal flooring or structures.
• Poor Welding Practice without eyewear
• In cramped conditions where you are required to lie, kneel or crouch.

4. Noise Hazards. When carrying out welding activities, there is exposure to loud, prolonged noises.

Regular or immediate exposure to loud noises can cause permanent noise-induced hearing loss.

Noise-induced hearing loss can have the following side effects:

• Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.
• Occasional dizziness, known as vertigo.
• Increased heart rate.
• Increased blood pressure.

STATS

• Each year, there are an estimated 4,000 non-fatal welding injuries and over 100 fatal welding accidents. The most common welding injuries are burns, eye injuries, and electrical shocks.
• Industrial Safety & Hygiene News, using figures from OSHA studies, reports that 1 in 250 construction workers will die from a welding injury. With over half a million American welders working today, 2,000 welding fatalities are projected.
• “Welder’s flash,” or burns to the eyes due to ultraviolet light emitted from certain welding operations, account for nearly 6% of all workplace-related eye injuries for all construction trades.
• Out of the 190,000 workers who carry out welding activities each year, 150 of them die from cancer caused by welding.
• More than 560,000 workers are injured each year from welding accidents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For every 100 million work hours, approximately 1,000 workers suffer a welding-related injury. That’s 100 times worse than the average injury rate for all other workers.
• Welding accidents comprise roughly 25 percent of fatal occupational accidents. They also include about one-third of all non-fatal amputations.