Attention Weldors, Fabricators, Machinists

[GHarman]

Watch your processes and your Health. Know what you are working with. Know how to manage your environment to minimize health risk. Please see; http://www.georgiaaiha.org/hexchrome.pdf GregH

 

[GCroyle]

Greg,



I didn't get a chance to look at this, but I will show it to my future Son in Law, he just changed his Tech major from HVAC to Welding, he is excited about the challange and skill required. Now he just needs a job that pays for the skill.



Hope you are doing well and Ol Ugly is mending, haven't heard much about it.



Did some 100 yard work w/ homemades, 29 out of 30 rds in 10 ring, slow prone, nice little 1/4" holes.

 

[JLEONARD]

Greg, Those of us in the automotive manufacturing business have know about hex chrome and it's health risks for several years. It has affected the entire automotive business and others as well. (Ever wonder why undercar parts rust out so much quicker today? No more hexchrome in the coating, that's why). Jay

 

[GHarman]

The Hexavalent Chrome laced fumes from welding Stainless steels and High Chrome Steels as well as related fumes from torch/plasma cutting and grinding are the job sets I hope to bring up to date. Most construction sites and small fab shops are not even aware this issue exists. A " Headsup" courtesy and training is necessary. Awareness of the federal regulations as well as how to protect yourself on the job is paramount. I am a firm believer in the word "NO" when used in reference to my health and safety as well as that of my fellow workers. I am no longer involved in industry but I keep my ear to the ground and will continue to post relevent health and safety information for those of you that ARE working in these fields. GregH

 

[GHarman]

Greg,



I didn't get a chance to look at this, but I will show it to my future Son in Law, he just changed his Tech major from HVAC to Welding, he is excited about the challange and skill required. Now he just needs a job that pays for the skill.



Hope you are doing well and Ol Ugly is mending, haven't heard much about it.



Did some 100 yard work w/ homemades, 29 out of 30 rds in 10 ring, slow prone, nice little 1/4" holes.

Gary, He is in the right trades. Both HVAC and welding can pay very well. Hope he completes traing in BOTH fields. PM me with his level of training and I can give more specifics. Good Shootin' there, BUD! GregH

 

[Mike Ellis]

Even something as simple as galvanized pipe can ruin your day if you are not careful. Check out this sad case of metal fume fever, which killed a very talented blacksmith. How did it happen? He wanted to do some forge welding with some chunks of pipe. To do so, he needed to burn off the zinc. Zinc can do terrible things when inhaled.

Shop Safety III : A Case Study : Zinc Metal Fume Fever - anvilfire iForge Demo

Once metals are in your body, they rarely "just go away". Accordingly each time you are exposed you can accumulate a slightly heavier body burden, and reach the point that severe systemic effects can begin to show up. Nerve damage, organ failure - bad stuff.

An ounce of prevention is worth a kiloton of cure in the case of metal poisoning. Be safe out there, and remember when arc or torch welding that the smoke coming off your work is not harmless. Good ventilation is your friend.....

 

[Boomer II]

Any link to leukemia?

 

[KIKER]

Back in '68, in the high school ag class, I had to stop a class mate from putting a length of 3" galvanized pipe in the gas forge. He was going to heat it to bend it, I guess. He didn't know that the zinc would produce toxic fumes/smoke, even tho he was a grade ahead of me and did well in school and later in life as a vet. I went on to become a welder by trade, bossing construction jobs for 12 years. The 3rd bossing job that ended in my firing, I went back to welding in '01, and am barely hanging on here in the oil patch.