Evaluation and monitoring of UVR in Shield Metal ARC Welding processing.
This study established a comprehensive approach to monitoring UVR magnitude from Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) processing and quantified the effective exposure based on measured data. The irradiances from welding UVR were calculated with biological effective parameter (Slambda) for human exposure assessment. The spectral weighting function for UVR measurement and evaluation followed the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) guidelines. Arc welding processing scatters bright light with UVR emission over the full UV spectrum (UVA, UVB, and UVC). The worst case of effective irradiance from a 50 cm distance arc spot with a 200 A electric current and an electrode E6011 (4 mm) is 311.0 microW cm(-2) and has the maximum allowance time (Tmax) of 9.6 s. Distance is an important factor affecting the irradiance intensity. The worst case of the effective irradiance values from arc welding at 100, 200, and 300 cm distances are 76.2, 16.6, and 12.1 microW cm(-2) with Tmax of 39.4, 180.7, and 247.9 s, respectively. Protective materials (glove and mask) were demonstrated to protect workers from hazardous UVR exposure. From this study, the methodology of UVR monitoring in SMAW processing was developed and established. It is recommended that welders should be fitted with appropriate protective materials for protection from UVR emission hazards.
Peng
Chiung-yu
CY
Graduate Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Kaohsiung Medical Univeristy, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Liu
Hung-hsin
HH
Chang
Cheng-ping
CP
Shieh
Jeng-yueh
JY
Lan
Cheng-hang
CH
D004566:Electrodes; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D017575:Gloves, Protective; D006801:Humans; D008397:Masks; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011835:Radiation Protection; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014896:Welding