Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00419:body:0:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00419
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 18409–21466

back through the risk management steps, review your information
and make further decisions about controlling the risk.

3.             SPECIFIC HAZARDS AND CONTROL MEASURES

3.1 Airborne contaminants
Regulation 351: A person conducting a business or undertaking must manage the risks associated with using, handling, generating or storing a hazardous chemical at a workplace. This includes ensuring that hazardous chemicals are correctly labelled and that workers can access current safety data sheets.
Welding can generate fumes, mists, dust, vapours and gases, including ozone. The amounts
and types of fumes produced vary greatly depending on the process involved and the materials being used such as metals, solvents, flux, paint and plastics. The health effects of exposure to fumes, dust, vapour and gases can vary. Effects can include irritation of the upper respiratory
tract (nose and throat), tightness in the chest, asphyxiation, asthma, wheezing, metal fume fever, lung damage, bronchitis, cancer, pneumonia or emphysema.
Some welding fumes are easy to see, however, many gaseous fumes and vapours are invisible. Generally, fewer fumes are generated from gas welding than from electric welding processes. Also, intense ultraviolet radiation emitted by arcs may travel significant distances from arcs, especially in reflective environments and may give rise to significant quantities of ozone.
Appendix A contains information about fumes that are commonly released during welding.
To determine the risk of exposure to fumes during welding you should identify what equipment and materials are being used and the level of fumes, dust, vapour and gases generated. For example, phosphine is generated when steel that is coated with a rust proofing compound is welded. High concentrations of phosphine gas are irritating to the eyes, nose and skin. The substance can have detrimental effects on the lungs and other organs. In order to prevent exposure to phosphine in this circumstance, you would first identify rust proofed steel in the material that will be welded.
For exposure to welding fumes, total fume concentrations as well as individual fume components should be considered

Control measures
    * Eliminate, so far as is reasonably practicable, any exposure to airborne contaminants
      that are hazardous chemicals.
    * If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, measures to minimise it must
      be used. For example
       * substituting a hazardous chemical with a less hazardous one
       * reducing the quantity of a hazardous chemical that is used, handled or stored
         at the workplace
       * isolating the source of exposure to the hazardous chemical, for example, welding
         in isolation booths away from others
       * using engineering control measures, for example, installing ventilation systems
         to capture or remove airborne contaminants. Refer to 4.1 of this code for more information on ventilation.
    * Implement administrative control measures, for example procedures to