In the welding industry, prioritizing safety is crucial, yet a prevalent occupational risk often goes unnoticed: metal fume fever. This ailment, familiar to many welders, poses significant health concerns.

By demystifying metal fume fever, including its symptoms, causes, and, most critically, prevention methods, welders can better protect their health and foster a more secure work environment.

Understanding Metal Fume Fever

Definition and Alternative Names

Metal fume fever, a well-known disease among professional welders, manifests as an acute, flu-like illness, primarily from inhaling fumes generated in welding processes, especially when working with materials like galvanized steel (zinc oxide). Its first recorded instance dates to 1831.

This illness isn’t confined to professional environments; it’s a widespread issue, with thousands of cases reported annually in the United States and Canada alone. It’s also known under various names, such as “Monday morning fever,” “Monday fever” (alluding to its frequent appearance after weekends or welding breaks), “zinc shakes,” or “welder’s cough.”

Identifying the Causes

The inhalation of metallic oxides is the main factor in developing metal fume fever. For instance, welding galvanized steel emits zinc oxide fumes, a key contributor to the condition. But zinc isn’t the sole culprit.

Various other metal fumes can also induce the illness, including copper, magnesium, chromium, aluminum, cadmium, iron oxide, manganese, nickel, selenium, silver, tin, titanium, and beryllium. The variety of these metals highlights the extensive risk inherent in diverse welding operations.

Metal Fume Fever Symptoms and Diagnosis

Metal fume fever commonly presents with flu-like symptoms. Those affected may experience chills, fever, nausea, and body aches, typically surfacing four to ten hours post-exposure. This delay often leads to the condition being overlooked during welding activities.

This condition is mainly observed in adults (99% of cases) and predominantly in men (96%), which correlates with the gender distribution in welding.

Diagnosis of metal fume fever primarily hinges on recognizing these symptoms and correlating them with recent welding exposure. However, due to the nonspecific nature of these symptoms, it can be challenging. Typically self-limiting, the symptoms usually resolve within 12 to 48 hours after stopping exposure and do not lead to long-term effects, as noted by sources such as PubMed.

The occurrence of metal fume fever is a clear sign that fume exposure levels are dangerously high, necessitating immediate intervention. It’s advisable to wait for the complete resolution of symptoms before resuming welding, highlighting the importance of addressing this issue to prevent loss of workdays.

FREE GUIDE

30 EXPERT TIPS FOR A FUME-FREE WORKSPACE

Get your hands on our exclusive guide full of actionable insights. Provide your email below and dive into:

  • A compact guide packed with 30 powerful tips to tackle welding fumes effectively.
  • Tailored information on regulations you need to know to stay compliant.
  • Inspiring success stories from industry peers who’ve transformed their operations.
  • Practical advice to help you select the ideal fume extractor tailored to your needs.

Debunking the Milk Myth

A persistent myth in the welding community is that drinking milk can prevent the adverse effects of welding fumes, including metal fume fever. This myth suggests that the calcium in milk can bind to and help eliminate heavy metals from the body. However, this belief is unsupported by scientific evidence.

The origins of this myth are uncertain, but its prevalence in the welding community is concerning. Relying on milk for protection against toxic fumes can create a misleading sense of security, potentially overshadowing the need for proper safety practices like effective fume extraction.

Preventive Strategies for Metal Fume Fever

Preventing metal fume fever requires a comprehensive understanding of the risks, implementing safer working practices, and using appropriate protective equipment. Here, we outline essential strategies for prevention. For a more in-depth discussion, refer to our detailed article or use the link in the specific sections below.

Minimizing Welding Exposure

  1. Alternative Joining Methods: Whenever feasible, opt for alternative methods like bolts, fasteners, adhesives, or robotic welding. These alternatives can significantly reduce manual welding and exposure to harmful fumes.
  2. Isolating Welding Areas: Segregate welding activities from other workspaces. Use a dedicated building or area for welding, or at the very least, use welding screens to contain and limit the spread of fumes.

Choosing Safer Processes and Materials

  1. Selecting Low-Fume Welding Processes: Choose welding methods known to produce fewer fumes. Adjusting power settings can also play a role in reducing fume generation.
  2. Material Consideration: Opt for materials that emit less toxic fumes. This includes stripping any coatings like paint before welding and avoiding materials that contain carcinogenic or highly toxic substances.

For more information: Practical Techniques to Minimize Welding Fumes

Effective Fume Extraction Methods

Employ fume extractors explicitly designed for welding environments. Fume extraction MIG guns are recommended for MIG and Flux-Cored welding, while extraction arms are more suitable for other processes.

For more information, read The Essential Role of Welding Fume Extractors: An In-depth Guide.

Personal Positioning and Ventilation

  1. Educating on Positioning: Train welders to position themselves to minimize fume inhalation. For instance, they should not place their head between the weld pool and the fume extractor.
  2. Outdoor Ventilation Techniques: When outdoors, use natural wind currents to help disperse fumes.
  3. Workspace Ventilation: Ensure the workspace is well-ventilated (a minimum of four air changes per hour is recommended). Proper ventilation is vital in diluting and eliminating airborne contaminants.

Implementing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

When other safety measures fall short, using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as masks and respirators, becomes essential. These should be individually fitted to each worker to ensure maximum protection. PPE acts as a critical line of defense, especially when other means cannot sufficiently reduce exposure levels.

These combined strategies are effective in preventing metal fume fever and assisting in complying with welding fume regulations and exposure limits in the United States and Canada. They play a pivotal role in safeguarding against other occupational diseases in welding.

Conclusion: A Call to Action for a Safer Welding Environment

It’s vital to understand that the prevention of metal fume fever relies not on folklore but on scientifically validated methods such as adequate ventilation and adherence to safe work practices. By prioritizing the health and safety of welders, we contribute to nurturing a safer, more knowledgeable welding community. Committing to these practices is essential for the well-being of all individuals in the welding industry.

Any Questions?

Feel free to contact us. We will help you protect your workers and comply with welding fumes standards anywhere in the US and Canada.

1-866-800-8421
info@airgomig.com