Ensuring Compliance with Welding Fume Exposure

Why Welding Fume Monitoring Matters

Welding fumes comprise a complex mixture of hazardous airborne particulates and gases. Factors like the welding method, metals used, shielding gases, flux, and metal coatings all influence the composition of fume exposure. Ensuring compliance with current exposure standards is critical for protecting worker health and meeting regulatory obligations.

Current Regulatory Framework: WES & the WEL Transition

Workplace Exposure Standard (WES)

Safe Work Australia recently reduced the WES for total welding fumes (not otherwise classified) from 5mg/m³ to 1mg/m³ as an 8hour time-weighted average (TWA) to better safeguard workers, particularly against respiratory disease and lung cancer risks.

Transition to Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL)

Australia is transitioning from WES to the more definitive Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL), with the transition period lasting until 30 November 2026. PCBUs must continue complying with WES during this period. After 1 December 2026, the WEL list will take effect, replacing WES entirely.

PCBUs must also ensure compliance with WES/WEL for both total welding fumes and their individual chemical components. Many welding fume constituents, like metals and gases, have their own specific exposure limits that must not be exceeded.

Role of Air Sampling: Ensuring Compliance and Protecting Health

Where there’s uncertainty about exposure levels, air monitoring is mandatory to determine compliance with WES/WEL regulations.

Skilled occupational hygienists are invaluable in designing, executing, and interpreting air monitoring programs tailored for welding environments.

Key monitoring considerations:

• Sampling in the worker’s breathing zone ensures relevant exposure assessment. Personal sampling is preferred for accuracy.
• Analytical work must be conducted by NATA accredited laboratories to ensure reliability.
• For non-standard shifts, exposure adjustments to the 8hour TWA may be needed, based on accepted models.
• Monitoring must account for exposure to mixtures, compensating for additive effects of multiple contaminants.

How We Support You - Expert Air Sampling Equipment & Services

As an official SKC certified partner and service centre of air sampling equipment, we provide:

- A range of world-renowned personal sampling pumps & filters: Ensuring accurate capture of welding fume particulates at the worker’s breathing level.

- Real-time monitoring instruments: Ideal for fluctuating exposures in dynamic welding operations.

- Calibration & maintenance services: Certified and manufacturer trained service technicians, keeping equipment compliant and field-ready.

- Technical Support: A dedicated team focused on providing technical support for your equipment queries ensuring a resolution is provided quickly and efficiently.

By leveraging our solutions, occupational hygienists and PCBUs can confidently assess welding fume exposure, ensure compliance, and protect worker health.

Welding Fume Monitoring Tools

Here is a chart provided by our partners SKC to show what’s available for monitoring welding fumes, you can download the document here. 

 

To view our full range of recommended SKC personal air sampling solutions for monitoring airborne hazards, please take a look here.

 

Resourceful Links and Information

• For detailed guidelines and resources, refer to the official regulations outlined by SafeWork Australia .
• Find certified occupational hygienists through the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists for expert assistance.