Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Welding Fume and Metals Exposure Assessment among Construction Welders

건설현장 용접직종별 용접흄 및 금속류 노출 실태

  • Park, Hyunhee (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) ;
  • Park, Hae Dong (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) ;
  • Jang, Jae-kil (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency)
  • 박현희 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 박해동 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 장재길 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원)
  • Received : 2016.02.19
  • Accepted : 2016.06.23
  • Published : 2016.06.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the assessment of exposure to welding fume and heavy metals among construction welders. Methods: Activity-specific personal air samplings(n=206) were carried out at construction sites of three apartment, two office buildings, and two plant buildings using PVC(poly vinyl chloride) filters with personal air samplers. The concentration of fumes and heavy metals were evaluated for five different types of construction welding jobs: general building pipefitter, chemical plant pipefitter, boiler maker, ironworker, metal finishing welder. Results: The concentration of welding fumes was highest among general building pipefitters($4.753mg/m^3$) followed by ironworkers($3.765mg/m^3$), boilermakers($1.384mg/m^3$), metal finishing welders($0.783mg/m^3$), chemical pipefitters($0.710mg/m^3$). Among the different types of welding methods, the concentration of welding fumes was highest with the $CO_2$ welding method($2.08mg/m^3$) followed by SMAW(shield metal arc welding, $1.54mg/m^3$) and TIG(tungsten inert gas, $0.70mg/m^3$). Among the different types of workplace, the concentration of welding fumes was highest in underground workplaces($1.97mg/m^3$) followed by outdoor($0.93mg/m^3$) and indoor(wall opening as $0.87mg/m^3$). Specifically comparing the workplaces of general building welders, the concentration of welding fumes was highest in underground workplaces($7.75mg/m^3$) followed by indoor(wall opening as $2.15mg/m^3$). Conclusions: It was found that construction welders experience a risk of expose to welding hazards at a level exceeding the exposure limits. In particular, for high-risk welding jobs such as general building pipefitters and ironworkers, underground welding work and $CO_2$ welding operations require special occupational health management regarding the use of air supply and exhaust equipment and special safety and health education and fume mask are necessary. In addition, there is a need to establish construction work monitoring systems, health planning and management practices.

Keywords

References

  1. Choi HC, Kim KY, An SH, Park WH, Kim SJ et al. Airborne Concentration of Welding Fume and Metals of Workers Exposed to Welding Fume. J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 1999;9(1)
  2. Flynn MR, Susi P. Local exhaust ventilation for the control of welding fumes in the construction industry--a literature review. Ann Occup Hyg 2012;56(7):764-76 https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/mes018
  3. Han JG, Lee JB. Recent Construction Steel and Weldability. Korea society of steel construction 1995;7(3)
  4. Hwang SH, Son BS, Jang BK, Lee JW, Park JA. Status of Welding Fume Concentration and Local Ventilation System at Welding Laboratory in Technical High School. J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 2001;11(1)
  5. Jang JK, Kim KB, Park HH. Development of applicable health management manual for construction business(II) - civil engineering project -. Research report of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, 2012
  6. Jeon CK. A study on Spatial Distribution of Welding Fume and Worker's Exposure in Shipyard. Master's thesis of Seoul National University, 2001
  7. Jeong JY, Lee KN, Kim JM. Welding Fume, Metal Exposures and Metal Contents of Gas Metal Arc Welding in the Heavy Construction Machinery Ship. J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 2002;12(1)
  8. Kang YS, Shin JK, Lee SK, Yoon CS, Lim MH et al. An Evaluation on Airborne Particulate and It's Components in the Welding Workplace for the Ship Construction Industry. J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 2007;17(3)
  9. Kim KJ, Song KC. A Study on the Concentration of Welding in a Shipbuilding Factory. J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 1991;1(1)
  10. Kim BW, Kim HW. Characterization of Nanoparticles from Welding and Grinding Processes: Evaluation of Number Concentration and Size Distribution J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 2012;22(3)
  11. Kim SW, Park JY, Park JG, Park JH. Development on Statistical Analysis Tool for Working Environment Measurement. Research report of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, 2013
  12. Kim YH, Kim JW, Lim HS, Shin YC, Kim KS. Positron emission tomography (PET) Results taken in manganese poisoning suspected welder. 19th fall conference book of Korean society of occupational and environmental medicine, 1997
  13. KOSHA. Task-Force Team Report of Comprehensive Safety and Health Management Plans for Welders. 2011 p. 6
  14. Kwag YS, Paik NW . A Study on Airborne Concentration of Welding Fumes and Metals in Confined Spaces of a Shipyard. J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 1997;7(1)
  15. Kwon YJ. Research on Chemical Hazards and Risk Assessment and Management in Construction industry. Research report of Labour Ministry, 2005
  16. Lee YS, Yoon CG, Park JA, Lee JA, Lee SK, Chae JH, Kim ES. Evaluation of Chromium and Manganese Exposure in Welders. J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 2000;10(1)
  17. Lee IS, Park HH, Seo HK. Development of applicable health management manual for construction business(II) - general building -. Research report of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, 2011
  18. Lee CG. Welding Engineering 2009, Cheongmoongak p 95-103
  19. Meeker JD, Susi P, Flynn MR. Manganese and welding fume exposure and control in construction. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2007;4(12):943-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/15459620701718867
  20. Shin YC, Lee KY, Lee NR, Oh SM, Kang SK, Moon YH, Lee GR. Welder's Exposure to Airborne Hexavalent Chromium and Nickel during Arc Welding in a Shipyard J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 1998;8(2)
  21. Shin JS. Study on the Characteristics in the Human body of Welding Fume of Pipe Welding Workers at Construction Sites. Master's thesis of Seoul National University of Industry, 2004
  22. Yoon YM. A Study on the Environment-Friendly Pipe Welding Material for Reducing Environmental Pollution. Master's thesis of Seoul National University of Industry, 2009