HEALTH & SAFETY
NEW WEBINAR
EXTRACTABILITY
How to choose your own fume extraction equipment
In their latest webinar series, Extractability
teach you how to go through the process
of choosing the right extraction system,
from start to finish.
You’ve probably heard by now that
welding fume was recently reclassified
as carcinogenic in February of last year.
There’s now a legal requirement for all
fume and dust (not just from welding)
considered to be a contaminate to be
extracted before it goes into the breathing
zone of your employees.
What are the risks not acting or choosing
the wrong products?
You’re liable to get fines from the HSE. If
they find you haven’t got extraction or that
your extraction isn’t suitable, they’ll issue
you a breech notice, which can mean a
partial or full closure of your business,
especially if they find a large number of
breeches or an immediate danger to your
workers. By way of longer-term risks,
if any of your workers develop health
complications, in 10-30 years’ time, and
they can directly attribute their condition
to one of your work processes and prove
that you didn’t have suitable LEV at the
time for them then you would be liable
for a lawsuit. On the smaller end of the
spectrum, you may buy the wrong product,
wasting your time and money. If you have
any concerns or are due an HSE visit, you
can always call Extractability, who will be
happy to walk through the whole process
with you. They can also tell you what kind
of things they will be looking out for and
what they might pick you up on.
In order to protect against lawsuits,
Extractability offer ProtectoScan EDI that
provides constant, year-long air monitoring
so that you can both keep on top of your
fume extraction and produce solid, datadriven,
proof that your workplace has been
compliant with Government advice.
To begin the process of choosing you
fume extraction you need to consider:
• What are the processes in your
workplace that produce contaminant?
A few of your work processes might
require extraction under HSE guidelines
that you haven’t previously considered.
• What are my constraints? Consider
your workshop size, for example if you
have a low ceiling you may not be able
to fit fixed extraction or if you struggle
for floor space it might not be suitable to
have mobile units wheeled around. You
will also need to take into consideration
your workers’ physical ability, are they
able to push/pull a mobile unit into
position? At times, your location can
dictate certain environmental laws
meaning that you may not be allowed to
use a vent to atmosphere system
• How much of it do I do? You may not
need to go all out on a fitted extraction
system if you only use a welder
occasionally for maintenance. If you
are welding for less than 200 hours a
year, you may be able to use a small,
cost-effective, disposable filter unit
that would grant your LEV conformity
without having to spend much money.
If you are doing more than 200 hours a
year of welding you will need a unit with
cleanable filters to save you a significant
amount of money.
• What are my ongoing costs? There will
always be an on-going cost with LEV
units, eg, filters, maintenance, and your
annual LEV testing.
• Requirement for annual TExT? A
Thorough Examination and Test report
is a legal requirement that needs to be
carried out every 14 months, though
most people choose to get it done
annually.
• Training? Your welders need to be trained
on their LEV systems. The HSE inspectors
may ask workers using LEV equipment if
they have been trained, if they haven’t,
the HSE will pick you up on it.
Extractability is more than happy to cover
these points with you, including the
training of your staff and will issue you with
a certificate as proof.
What type of system would suit your
needs?
If you’re doing off site work and need a
mobile system or something to extract
from an on-torch set-up like the SifGun
Evolution, then you would look at vacuum
systems. If you needed a mobile or a
several mobile units to position in different
spots in your workshop, particularly
if you are working on a large project,
you might look at a large mobile unit
like the ProtectoXtra or ProtectoXtract.
Alternatively, for multiple welders working
in booths, a fixed system will be the most
efficient form of protection.
It is important to also consider what
materials you are looking to extract. If you
need to extract flammable or explosive
dusts you will need to look at systems
designed to reduce the risk of fire.
If you are unsure or unable to find a system
to suit you, Extractability can advise or
even build a bespoke system to suit your
needs.
Find Extractability’s full webinar series at Youtube.com/c/WeldabilitySif
54 PECM Issue 46