FURTHER STUDIES ON THE EXPOSURE OF WELDERS TO FUMES, CHROMIUM, NICKEL AND GASES IN DUTCH INDUSTRIES: PLASMA WELDING AND CUTTING OF STAINLESS STEEL *
- 1 April 1986
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Annals of Occupational Hygiene
- Vol. 30 (2) , 153-161
- https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/30.2.153
Abstract
The exposure of plasma welders and plasma cutters, at the work place in Dutch industries, to fumes, chromium and nickel during the welding or cutting of stainless steel has been investigated. The exposure to the gases NO 2 , NO and ozone is also discussed. In comparison with the Dutch occupational health standards, it appears that the fume exposure is often higher than the limit value of 5 mg m −3 in plasma cutting. In microplasma welding high ozone exposures have been detected; this was mainly due to the short distance between the welder's face and the plasma torch. This problem can be solved by the installation of a glass screen between the torch and the welder. It is shown that the fear of extremely high exposures to toxic agents due to the very high temperature of the plasma jet has not been justified.Keywords
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