Exposure Reduction in Welders – an Intervention study

Abbrevation: IPA-165-Interweld

Descriptor: occupational diseases, hazardous substances,

Objective

In a pilot study the exposures of the welder due to different conditions during standardized welding of a sample were compared. Different welding techniques and extraction variants as well as different material alloys and panel thicknesses were applied. The data of the hazardous substances measurements are currently being analyzed. The results of this pilot study will be considered in the concept for an intervention study in metal manufacturing companies. Intervention effects shall be determined by person-supported air measurements at the workplace and the analysis of working substances or their metabolites in body fluids (biomonitoring) before and after the establishment of exposure-reducing measures. This study should reveal the potential and limits of certain technical measures and their practicability. In addition, it is intended to generate impulses for the further development of occupational health and safety to reduce the exposure of employees to welding fumes.