Specification AWS/ASME SFA 5.28, EN 440

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

injuries. There are no recognised hazards associated directly with unused welding consumables prior to welding. Packaged consumables may be heavy, and 8. EXPOSURE PREVENTION/CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION should be handled and stored with care. FOLLOW MANUAL HANDLING

Prevention

REGULATIONS. Welders should not touch live electrical parts, and should insulate themselves Wire wound on reels or spools, or supplied in bulk packages can be coiled from the work and the ground. Manufacturer’s guidelines for the use of under tension. Take care to avoid the wire uncoiling rapidly when released. electrical welding machines should be observed at all times. WEAR GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION. Welders and co-workers should be educated about health hazards associated When using these wires and rods as part of the welding process additional with welding fume, and trained to keep their heads out of the fume plume. potential hazards are likely. These are: During welding, fumes and gases will be produced and emitted from the • Electric shock from the welding equipment or electrode. This can be fatal. welding process. The content of the fume is dependent on the welding • Hot metal spatter and heat, which can cause burns to the hand and body, consumables and base materials being welded. The amount and concentration and may cause fire if in contact with combustible materials. of fume generated is dependent on factors such as current, voltage, welding • UV, IR and light radiation from the arc, which can produce ‘arc eye’ and practices and number of welders in a given area. By following recommended possible eye damage to unprotected eyes. WEAR SUITABLE welding practices, fume production can sometimes be minimised. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. For the stainless steel solid wires and rods covered in this Data Sheet, the main • Fumes produced from the welding consumable, material being welded, constituents of the fume will be iron, chromium, nickel and manganese, mainly and the arc radiation. These consist of: in the form of complex oxides and silicates. There will also be smaller amounts o Particulate fume such as complex metal oxides, fluorides, and of other complex metal oxides and silicates. silicates from the weld materials Gaseous ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are also o Gaseous fume such as ozone and nitrogen oxides from the action of formed by the effect of the arc on the atmosphere and the shielding gas. In arc radiation on the atmosphere, and carbon monoxide and dioxide some cases ozone levels can be high and additional controls may be needed. from the oxidation of carbon in the components and from the The shielding gas used will also affect the fume formation rate, and higher shielding gas. levels of particulate fume will be generated as the percentage of carbon dioxide SHORT TERM INHALATION OF THESE FUMES AND GASES and oxygen is increased in the shielding gas. MAY LEAD TO IRRITATION OF THE NOSE, THROAT AND A summary of typical fume composition data for the common types of solid EYES. stainless steel wires and rods are given below, and the individual exposure LONG TERM OVEREXPOSURE OR INHALATION OF HIGH limits for the constituents (when specified) are also given. LEVELS OF FUMES MAY RESULT IN HARMFUL EFFECTS TO Fume exposure should be controlled to below the recognised exposure limit for THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM each of the individual constituents, and to below 5 mgm/m3 for the total AND LUNGS. particulate fume. LOCAL EXTRACTION AND /OR VENTILATION SHOULD BE TABLE 2: FUME COMPOSITION DATA (WT %) USED TO ENSURE THAT ALL HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS IN THE FUME ARE KEPT BELOW THEIR INDIVIDUAL Particulate Fume Composition for AWS A5.28 & EN440 type wires Fe Mn Cr Ni Mo Cu OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE STANDARDS IN THE WELDER’S EN 440 G2Mo 55 5 <0.1 <0.5 1.2 AND OTHER WORKERS’ BREATHING ZONES ER 70S-B2L 55 5 0.4 <0.1 <0.5 1.2 NOTE; If welding is performed on plated or coated materials such as ER 80S-B2 55 5 0.4 <0.1 <0.5 1.2 galvanised steel, excessive fume may be produced which contains additional ER 90S-B3 ER 80S-B6 55 50 5 1.3 3 <0.1 <0.5 1.2 hazardous components, and may result in metal fume fever and other health ER 80S-B8 50 4 6 <0.1 <0.5 1.2 effects. ER 90S-D2 55 10 <0.1 <0.5 1.2 ER 80S-Ni1 55 6 <0.1 0.5 <0.1 1.2 ER 80S-Ni2