EFFECT OF FUMES FROM WELDING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25083, 15 January 1947, Page 5

EFFECT OF FUMES FROM WELDING

MEDICAL REPORTS QUOTED

CLAIM BEFORE RAILWAYS TRIBUNAL

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, January 14. The physiological effects of welding fumes on operators of electric and gas welding plants was discussed before the Railways Industrial Tribunal today. Assertions on behalf of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association, by Mr T. F. Gebbie. that fumes and gases created in welding were deleterious, particularly to welders’ lungs, were refuted by Mr N. L, Stevenson, for the department, who said that doctors contended that no permanent harm was done. Tradesmen welders claimed an allowance of 3d an hour while using acetone or electric welding plants. Mr Gebbie quoted the “Lancet” of April, 1936. on pulmonary affections, discovered by several doctors to have been caused by welding fumes. More acute illness, and even death, had been reported as being caused by welding, particularly on galvanised iron in a confined space.

The report quoted 10 cases or findings which. Mr Gebbie submitted, showed that welders were exposed to the risk of several pulmonary ailments, from common colds to poisoning from the gaseous by-products of welding, sometimes called metal fume fever. Replying. Mr Stevenson quoted a booklet published in June. 1946, which he submitted showed that the earlier medical assumption of pulmonary harm being caused by welding had not been justified.

Quoting an article in the booklet, written in part by one of the investigators quoted by Mr Gebbie, Mr Stevenson claimed that the effects of welding were not of a lasting nature. They were very largely psychological. Workers feared the aftereffects, unless such fears were dispelled by medical authorities. The effects, neither chronic nor cumulative. of metal fume fever had been found not to predispose to tuberculosis or any other respiratory disease. Welding workers were even found less susceptible to ordinary colds than others.