ISRP 2000 abstract
| Presenter/author | Title | Abstract |
|
Appleton, Ross Product manager, Respiratory & hazardous materials handling, New Zealand Safety Pty Ltd |
An Evaluation of the Effective Use of Respirators and Local Exhaust Ventilation by Welders | Welders in New Zealand commonly use very little protection to avoid the health effects associated with welding fumes. They may on occasions when the work is considered to be "dirty" use extraction equipment and/or respirators. This study has involved the survey of 53 welders to compare their health condition with other studies, and obtain information concerning the effective use of respirators by welders. The prevalence of health effects among the study population was similar to other studies and the use of respirators was not effective although wide spread. Less of the welders studied use local exhaust extraction. However, the researcher found that a number of those who reported the use of both local extraction and/or respirators 100% of the time, were observed as experiencing less respiratory disorders. In addition, 3 welders who use respirators 100% of the time but use extraction less than 100% of the time were observed to have no health effects. The researcher concludes that in the New Zealand legislative climate of non-prescriptive health and safety law, welders need to be convinced that the use of both respirators and local extraction equipment has real benefits. Research that demonstrates an improvement in the welders health through the use of control mechanisms should prove invaluable. |