# Oxygen: the biggest enemy In fact, a weld should never come into contact with oxygen. The defective weld joint will be a source of corrosion and porosity and cannot be used in clean rooms or high-purity areas.
Prolonged exposure to welding fume may cause lung damage and various types of cancer, including lung, larynx and urinary tract. . Health effects from certain fumes may include metal fume fever, stomach ulcers, kidney damage and nervous system damage.
The life expectancy of a welder is between 50 and 60 years. However, this can be mitigated by wearing the proper safety clothing and taking all the necessary precautions.
Both acute and chronic health risks are associated with welding fume. Occupational lung disease, including lung cancer, is the most common health risk, but welding can also affect the eyes and skin.
Welders provide necessary services to various industries, including manufacturing, transportation and infrastructure. Working in a high-demand field can be beneficial, as it guarantees stable employment and higher wages because the skills of the trade are highly valuable to employers.
Cons of the Welding Profession
Welders may experience some dangers and discomfort on the job including burns, eye discomfort, exposure to hazardous materials and a lot of physical effort. You may find yourself in tight spaces, working in hot weather or welding in wet and cold environments.
Pneumosiderosis, or more commonly referred to as Welder's lung, is an occupational lung disease that occurs after chronic inhalation of iron dust particles, especially in welders.
Average Nuclear Industry Welder Salary: $67,000 per year
Welders in the nuclear industry might work on pipelines, underwater, or in the military. They must pass a demanding screening process, including FBI clearance, to become nuclear certified, making it one of the most difficult welding positions to obtain.
During preheating and welding metal is heated to high temperatures and the welding arc emits extremely concentrated rays that can cause sun burns very quickly. It's very easy to get burned during the welding process, but thankfully, these burns are also extremely easy to prevent if you take proper precautions.
Exposure to infrared light can heat the lens of the eye and produce cataracts over the long term. Visible light from welding processes is very bright and can overwhelm the ability of the iris of the eye to close sufficiently and rapidly enough to limit the brightness of the light reaching the retina.
While it is true that some jobs that could only be performed by a human are now overtaken by automation and robots, welding will not become obsolete by any means. Welding is a complex craft that has unique challenges that technology can't solve on its own.
Welding fumes are far worse for you than smoking. Any time you weld you should be wearing a respirator with appropriate filters to the situation or even an approved fresh air supplied mask with an approved supply of fresh air(NOT off your shop compressor, it contains oil).
Metal fume fever (MFF) has been defined as a “flu-like illness that develops after inhalation of metal fumes with symptoms beginning 3–10 hours after exposure. Initially, there may be a sweet metallic taste in the mouth accompanied by a worsening dry cough and shortness of breath.
An edge joint is the weakest type of weld join, so isn't suitable for load-bearing jobs. Instead, it's ideal for reinforcing metal and replacing worn and damaged metal.
7 – It's a Relatively Low-Stress Job. Most of the time, being a welder is a pretty low-stress job. Sure, there will be times when work gets stressful, but this is usually the exception rather than the rule. Welding isn't a terribly mentally taxing job, either.
Welders can very easily burn or seriously hurt themselves. This has a tendency to create stress. You're also working under demanding deadlines. Often you have to work at night or outdoors (because you're on a construction project and it's hard to build a building indoors).
Hazards from gas welding and brazing differ from arc welding hazards primarily because they involve metals with lower melting points. One such metal is lead. Overexposure of male workers to lead compounds is known to decrease the sexual drive and reduce the ability to produce healthy sperm.
Researchers have discovered that welders develop symptoms of parkinsonism — a general term referring to disorders that cause movement problems that resemble those of Parkinson's disease — because of prolonged exposure to manganese, a chemical element from welding fumes.
Breathe Freely.
When welding in confined spaces, toxic fumes may accumulate, or shielding gasses may replace breathable air. Use an exhaust hood to remove fumes from the area and ensure enough clean breathing air is available.
The future of welding jobs could be brighter than predicted
As mentioned, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a three-percent growth in welding jobs over the next ten years, which is in line with the average for all occupations.
In many cases, welders work in shifts. For our welder, he works the evening shift, which is typically 10 hours per day, four days per week. He'll clock in upon arrival at the worksite, place personal items such as jackets, hats, bags, and lunches into a secure locker, and then change into protective gear.
Having a range of skills and qualities can make for a well-rounded welder. There is plenty to learn in the field of welding, and even more skills that you may need in addition to this list. Both men and women can become successful welders and being physically strong is only one element of a welding career.