The health and safety aspects of hyperbaric welding are therefore of considerable importance. Hyperbaric Welding Fumes and Gases Arc welding processes produce various contaminants and the exposure of Divers to these must be less than that permitted in the health and safety legislation and in company safety manuals. Hyperbaric welding is performed in a generally closed environment and ventilating the welding area with a large flow of air is not a practical solution as it is in many welding operations in a normal workshop. Control of exposure is normally achieved by the combination of gas regeneration equipment, which removes the pollutants, and the use of respirators. The concentration of pollutants must also be monitored and recorded.
Ozone is removed by contact with filters and chemicals in the gas regeneration system.
If argon is used as a shielding gas for hyperbaric welding this represents a source of potential contamination in the habitat. It is also a slower transferring gas with respect to decompression than helium. As far as it is known, the concentrations of argon present during normal hyperbaric welding do not present a hazard, but it is important to be aware of the consequences of accidental over exposure. Proceedings of the 3rd International GUSI Symposium on Underwater Technology, Hamburg 1991.