Australian Standard For Welding Fumes. Download AWS Standards for Welding. Welding fumes are recognised internationally and are classified as a possibly carcinogenic to humans should we be exposed to them for long or even regular short periods of time.
Under Australian exposure standards the average Australian welder not equipped with respiratory protection may inhale 11 grams of welding fume each year. Some of these substances have national exposure standards. Ad Instant Access to AWS Welding Standards or Request a Quote for Enterprise Subscription.
In 2017 welding fumes were reclassified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC Monogram -118 from a Group 2B possibly carcinogenic to humans to Group 1 carcinogenic to humans.
This Guide is limited to discussion of the potential hazards of welding fumes and gases. What are the current Australian Workplace Exposure Standards for welding fume and what do they mean. Published by the Welding Technology Institute of Australia. It is also generally accepted that stainless steel fumes are more hazardous than that of mild carbon steel fume due to the higher chromium and nickel contents found within them.