Project status: Active

How can we breathe easier when working around welding fumes?

Welding fume has been reclassified as “Carcinogenic to Humans” by the International Agency for the Research on Cancer (IARC). This is the first time that there has been an identified link between inhaling welding fumes and the risk of cancer.

There is still a portion of the workforce who are unaware of this fact, which means they are probably unaware of the best ways to avoid the risk. Further to that, businesses may not realise what their team members are being subjected to daily.

There are many available resources to help reduce the inhalation of welding fumes, including the use of personal protective equipment or well-placed extraction fans. However, there is still a gap in the knowledge of how and when these preventative measures need to be employed, and for whom.

Finding the fix to harmful fumes

We have undertaken this project to identify the types of workers exposed to welding fumes and their levels of exposure. By understanding the existing prevention strategies in place, we can develop a better system or remove any barriers to safe working environments.

We have partnered with the University of Sydney and Curtin University to develop and test interventions to help reduce worker exposure to welding fumes. To date, we have surveyed workplaces, conducted interviews with workers and industry representatives, and tested exposure in workplaces to gain insights into the current practices.

Still to come

We are now developing strategies to implement interventions in workplaces to prevent exposure to welding fumes.

Watch this space for evidence-based interventions to reduce the risk of welding fume harm to workers.

Further reading

• New classification – welding fumes and UV radiation

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