The Algorithm of Chemical Risk Assessment in a Welded Construction Company

Abstract

There is no industrial sector in which welding is not used as a manufacturing process. Welding assembly is a highly polluting technology process, especially of the atmosphere and soil. The formation of gases in the welding process is the result of burning the electrodes, flows, forming the molten metal bath and making the weld seam. Welding operators are exposed to smoke and toxic gases resulting from the welding process, which may be dangerous to health. Many acute intoxications due to excessive exposure or short-term exposure to smoke and gas resulting from the welding process have been studied over time. However, in addition to general effects such as respiratory irritation, long-term effects have been directly attributed the influence of smoke and toxic gases, for example, the chronic effects due to the presence of chromium, nickel and aluminum. There are some welding sections where the level of noxes exceeds the limits allowed by the law, and in these cases it is fairly possible to speak of so-called chemical risk. The paper aims is to measure the emissions of noxious substances in case of welding of welded specimens and if the limits allowed by the welding laws are exceeded, to present a chemical risk assessment algorithm, going through three stages: inventory of materials and products used at a workstation, hierarchy of potential risks noted IRP and ultimately, the risk assessment.