Some of the common injuries can lead to long-term or permanent damage that may require ongoing medical care or even a change in occupation. Drop-weld injuries. This occurs if hot metal makes it down into the ear canal. The result can cause significant damage requiring invasive surgery to repair it. Unfortunately, this can also limit hearing ability from that ear. Over-exposure to fumes. Because heavy metals and toxic gases are released into the environment and absorbed into the body, fumes are probably the biggest offender when it comes to causing the most widespread harm to welders. Some of the metals released include aluminum, arsenic, lead, beryllium, and manganese. Gases that are breathed in by welders can be anything from carbon monoxide to argon. These toxins can wreak havoc on the human body causing everything from conditions such as Parkinson's disease to hearing loss, to diseases such as cancer. The long-term respiratory issues caused by fumes include: Lung disease Metal Fume Fever Infectious Pneumonia Chronic Bronchitis Asthma Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Interstitial Lung Disease Pulmonary Fibrosis Lung cancer Electric Shock. Long-term effects that can be experienced as a result of electrocution can be ongoing. What starts with contact burns can result in nervous system impairment or paralysis. It can also cause heart attack, which can later mean anything from a lifetime of medication to surgical intervention, or heart failure down the road.