As of January 18, 2024, Safe Work Australia has implemented stricter workplace exposure standards (WES) for welding fumes, reducing the allowable limit to 1 mg/m³ over an 8-hour time-weighted average. This change follows the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifying welding fumes as a Group 1 carcinogen, known to cause cancer in humans.
What Does This Mean for Your Workplace?
The new standard highlights the importance of managing exposure to hazardous particles and gases generated during welding. These include harmful substances like chromium, copper, and ozone, which can have severe long-term health effects. Businesses must now reassess their fume extraction and ventilation systems to ensure compliance with the updated regulations.
Your Partner in Compliance: Advanced Fume Extraction Solutions
At Laser Machines, we understand the critical role of efficient fume extraction in creating safe and compliant work environments. That’s why we offer the Lanuss TOMJ Series of Mobile Welding Fume Extractors, designed to effectively capture and filter harmful welding fumes, ensuring your workspace meets the new standards.
Lanuss TOMJ-11: A compact and efficient solution for moderate welding applications, this unit offers reliable filtration to keep your workspace safe.
Lanuss TOMJ-15: Perfect for larger-scale operations, the TOMJ-15 provides robust extraction power to handle high-volume welding fumes.
Practical Steps to Compliance
To stay ahead of the new regulations, consider the following actions:
Assess Your Current Setup: Conduct air quality tests to determine current welding fume exposure levels.
Upgrade Extraction Systems: Invest in fume extraction units tailored to your operational needs.
Train Your Workforce: Educate your team on the importance of fume management and proper use of extraction equipment.
Regular Maintenance: Ensure your fume extraction units are serviced and operating at peak performance.
Need Help Staying Compliant?
Contact us today to explore our range of fume extraction units or to schedule a workplace assessment. Together, we’ll create a safer, healthier workspace for your team.
View Safe Work Australia's full media release here