Hello John, thank you for including that information for me. I hadn't gotten to doing a google search, thanks for attaching those. I am also hoping that some of the folks out there have had some personal experience regarding this topic that they would be willing to share. Best regards, Allan

Hi Jenn, thanks for including your take, I believe that the information that I have been able to come up with so far has all been as you said, no proof of any detrimental issues. As to other welding related safety issues, these will likely be a work in progress and there will always be new discoveries and methods for dealing with these issues. I would include asbestos as one of those issues, unfortunately the problems and issues relating to this have already taken a toll on many who were exposed. Not only welders, but millwrights, shipwrights, auto mechanics and others who have worked with products that used asbestos as a part of their trade. We have seen a major change in how this product is used or not used and also how it has been dealt with in instances where it is present or still in use.
     Hexavalent Chromium, an item that is found in working with SS predominantly and possibly other materials, is another item that is being scrutinized much more closely due to health issues that have been determined to come from it's processing, welding, and use. Osha is getting into the act on this much more strongly, yet it still hasn't gotten into the enforcement end of it as much as they initially indicated they were going to. I believe there will be much more to come on this topic and anyone who is sitting on the fence in dealing with it will likely be having regrets if they don't start initiating changes in the very near future. I believe we will likely see a great number of new class action type suits or personal lawsuits directed at shops and others as a result of ignoring this as an issue. As I see it, the lawyers are the only ones who will really benefit..... AS USUAL.
     Solvents and welding can also be a very bad mix, I don't remember the specific type of solvent, but I have read instances of particular solvents being photochemically reactive with welding arcs and producing phosgene gas. Phosgene gas is very harmful and even fatal in some instances, so being able to recognize when this could be a problem will prevent individuals from being put into an unsafe condition. I believe phosgene gas is also produced when R-12 refridgerant is burned in an open flame, don't know about some of the newer refridgerants.
     As a worker who might end up welding on piping systems that have contained various types of chemicals or gases. You should be aprised of the dangers that could arise from cutting into, welding on, or otherwise dealing with modifying, tying into, or working with these systems. In other words, don't just blindly accept that you should proceed with working on something like this. Your employer should be able to provide any information that would be pertinent to doing this type of work. This might include providing MSDS documentation to describe the reactivity and safety issues for any particular type of product that you would be dealing with. In some cases the plant where you might be working will provide a safety orientation where they would cover the specifics that would apply to maintain safety in their particular work environment.
     There are likely many other types of things that could expand further on your questions Jenn, I hope I have understood your question and included some of the information you were seeking. Thanks for your reply to my question. Best regards, Allan

Hello again Jenn, there were a couple of other fairly significant areas concerning exposure and safety issues.
     In the past many of the fabricated items that surround us were painted using lead-based paints. For those who have ever welded on these items you have likely experienced some of the discomforts associated with breathing the fumes if you didn't have the proper ventilation or respiration systems, if your exposure was excessive you probably labored through the sickness, body aches, headaches, and other resulting issues. So if at all possible avoid welding on painted or coated surfaces unless they have either been properly prepped(sand-blasted, ground, or otherwise cleaned of any residues which could burn and produce noxious fumes) or make sure that proper ventilation and respiration are in place.
     Along the same lines, there are plating processes that you may be asked to weld over or cut with a thermal type process(oxy-fuel torch, plasma cutter, air carbon arc, oxygen lance, laser) that could produce fumes that could be very harmful to you. Galvanizing, cad-plating, and a few other of the platings that I can't remember right now can also be very harmful, short-term effects as well as long-term. You should pay close attention to proper ventilation and respirator requirements when working with these sorts of items. A few more thoughts for consideration. Best regards, Allan