Hazardous
Careers - Welders at Risk of Asbestos Exposure - Welding Process,
Welding Tools, Application of Asbestos, Health Risks & Warnings
(October 26th, 2008)
 Welding
is a fabrication process that joins construction materials such
as metals or thermoplastics by using the process of Coalescence
(Coalescence is the term used to describe the process by which two
or more particles merge into 1). Workpieces that are to be joined
are melted and a filler material is added to form pools of molten
materials that cool down to create strong joints. And due to the
strong demand for metal joined parts in America, welders are employed
in many different industries including aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding
& manufacturing industries. The type of duties that welders
perform depends on their speciality, for example those in the automotive
industry are responsible for tasks such as fine-tuning automated
assembly systems while those in the aerospace industry are responsible
for functions such as repairing overhauled exhaust parts, shrouds,
and other hardware. This makes welders particularly vulnerable to
asbestos exposure in all work environments.
Welders are particularly vulnerable to asbestos exposure because
of the tools and hardware they use in their jobs. For example, for
many years until the 1980s, manufacturers denied the fact that they
used asbestos containing materials on welding rods. Research generated
in the early 80's proves that welding rods comprised of thin materials
comprised of from 5 to 15 percent asbestos fibers. As welding rods
came into friction with the welding torch flame, small asbestos
fibers evaporated into the air as dust through the extreme heat.
At this point, welders are at an extreme danger of inhaling asbestos
fibers in their lungs. Other job functions that welders performed
and that put them at risk of asbestos exposure is installing and
repairing pipe systems. In the decades prior to the 1970s, asbestos
was commonly used on pipes as insulation against extreme heat and
to minimize damage if a fire erupted. When welders repaired these
asbestos containing pipes using torch and their rods, the excess
heat and the light from the torch would break down particles from
the pipe which would then release asbestos fibers into the atmosphere.
The image on the left is of a welder releasing toxic metal fumes
from his welding rod. Thanks to the extreme heat coming into contact
with this welding rod, asbestos fibers could easily evaporate into
the atmosphere, although this could be avoided with proper ventilation
systems.
 Also,
because of the dangers of the heat emitted from the hot & burning
welding torch, welders wore special heat & flame resistant gloves
and used blankets to stop the spread of flames incase a fire erupts.
Unfortunately, these gloves and used blankets also contain asbestos.
Everytime the welder wore these gloves and came into contact with
flames & heat, there was a chance of asbestos fibers dissipitating
into the air and the welders inhaling them into their lungs. Although
welders could have taken precausions to protect themselves from
inhaling asbestos fibers by wearing equipment such as welding helmets,
goggles, safety glasses, ratcheting headgear, etc, thousands of
welders were unknowingly exposed to asbestos fibers because manufacturers
of welding tools did not specify the health related risks of asbestos
exposure in their product documentation. Although asbestos has been
banned from being put on welding products, many welders continue
to die from asbestosis or mesothelioma lung cancer.
Welding Process
In the welding process, welders would generate small particles
of the metal they are welding into the environment. These small
particles contain asbestos, nickel and chromium. It was easy for
welders to inhale these substances, because they were not aware
of the health risks associated with such substances, nor did they
wear protective gear. The image below is a classic example where
the person in the grey shirt is emitting heat from his welding rod,
and is probably and unknowingly inhaling asbestos fibers. Notice
the welder is not wearing any protective mask or gasket, only welding
gloves.
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