Welding Fume Awareness

In February 2019, the Health and Safety Executive released a safety alert in response to new scientific evidence from the International Agency for Research on Cancer that exposure to welding fume can cause lung cancer and possibly kidney cancer. All welding fume (including mild steel) was reclassified as carcinogenic. As a result of this change, suitable engineering controls (typically Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)) must be provided and correctly used to control welding fume. Furthermore, respiratory protective equipment (RPE) should be provided to control the visual residual fume risk where LEV does not adequately control exposure indoors. Appropriate RPE should also be provided for welding outdoors. Risk assessments also need to reflect the change.

Cromwell have a wide selection of RPE to ensure you are keeping your workers safe from welding fume and our RPE and Welding Fume Awareness expert guides provide you with the legislation and information you need to select the right products.

Take a look at the range of welding protection and welding fume extraction.