With the Government's recent changes to the workplace exposure standard for welding fumes, Global Welding Supplies are committed to helping all our customers better protect their workers.

In an effort to understand the new requirements, we have spoken to an Occupational Hygienist as well as OHS Officers and Risk Assessors.

What is clear is that the new reduction from 5mg/m3 to 1mg/m3 means that it is highly probable that the vast majority of workshops will exceed this amount.

Based on the typical respiratory rate of 20 litres of air per minute or 2,300m3 of air per year, a welder operating within the current workplace exposure standards for general welding fume (5mg/m3), and wearing no respiratory protection could inhale up to 11 grams of welding fume per year.

By employing the right combination of controls, welding fume exposure can be minimised to not just 1mg/m3 but well below this level.