Chrome Release / Exposure to Operator When Welding 303 304

By jbk949 Date 10-09-2013 13:36

Does anyone know a source of information on exposure rates to Chrome when welding 303 and 304 grades?

We have primarily manual welding operations and as such there are more and more frequent requests from Health and Safety for this type of information, Silicone exposure being a hot topic also. Regulations are evolving constantly and the pressure to answer exposure questions has been increasing.

If anyone has a suggestion I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Thanks!

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 10-09-2013 13:48 Edited 10-09-2013 13:59

OSHA.gov can give you the hexavalent chromium exposure thresholds to stay under....and a host of other heavy metals that are bad for you.

EDIT. Site is not being updated currently due to the government shutdown but try here:
https://www.osha.gov/law-regs.html
Try Subpart I, 1910.134 and Subpart Q, 1910.1026
Chromium:
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=13096

that should get you what you need to answer questions about exposure levels and thresholds.

By lo-hi

Date 10-10-2013 11:17

The August 2013 AWS Journal has a good article on different shielding gases to reduce exposure.