Working with Galvanized metal / Zinc Poisoning

[Walkin Horse]

Drinking buttermilk before you start has more of an effect than waiting until your sick,then drinking regular milk. A fan and keeping your head out of it helps. There is more long term risk from welding stainless than from galvanize.

 

[BukitCase]

"There is more long term risk from welding stainless than from galvanize. "

And SHORT term too - I grabbed a couple 1/2" bolts to use for hinge pins on a gate last year, knew they were stainless but completely FORGOT about Hexavalant Chrome poisoning - about a half hour later I was walking along and actually FELL DOWN from the dizziness - finally managed to drag myself to the couch and spent the next couple hours losing the "spinning head" feeling.

I would NOT wanna find out how bad it woulda been if I'd done much MORE at a time - Doubt I'll forget THAT lesson soon... Steve

 

[Big Barn]

If welding galvanized on the welding table I use my fume extractor. Otherwise I try to do it outdoors.



Pretty certain buttermilk would make me barf.

Terry

 

[Shield Arc]

"There is more long term risk from welding stainless than from galvanize. "

And SHORT term too - I grabbed a couple 1/2" bolts to use for hinge pins on a gate last year, knew they were stainless but completely FORGOT about Hexavalant Chrome poisoning - about a half hour later I was walking along and actually FELL DOWN from the dizziness - finally managed to drag myself to the couch and spent the next couple hours losing the "spinning head" feeling.

I would NOT wanna find out how bad it woulda been if I'd done much MORE at a time - Doubt I'll forget THAT lesson soon... Steve

WOW!:shocked: This new to me! Back in the 1970s I use to build nuclear waste tanks. The inside of the tanks were stainless steel. Sometimes we had to Tig weld them. Other times we ran Mig. I never once got sick welding stainless steel inside the tanks. Guess I was very lucky!

 

[Walkin Horse]

I've never gotten sick from s/s but they say the exposure to it is bad. I have had some immediate breathing problems after inhaling the argon all day. It displaces the oxygen in your lungs.

 

[Shield Arc]

Back when we built those tanks. The safety department made us sign a form that every night we would go home and set with our legs and butt higher than our head. So the argon would drain out of our lungs.

 

[Walkin Horse]

I laid across the bed with my shoulders and head hanging off the side

 

[lilranch2001]

I wore a respirator every day for more than a decade. And, off and on for more than 35 years.

I have used both disposable, and reusable types. As well as several different air supplied systems.

I prefer the disposables, and with proper fit, had no issues with leaking.

Amazon.com: 3M 7193 Paint Spray Resp. Large: Automotive

Agreed
We use both as well in our facilities
Most employees prefer the use of disposable, but when someone prefers reusable for whatever reason we provide them as well
If they were not comparable for use, OSHA would never permit one over the other
The earlier post seems to come from personal preference rather than actual fact

 

[BukitCase]

"I never once got sick welding stainless steel inside the tanks. Guess I was very lucky!"

Carl, even back then I would think that they would've had SOME kind of area suction in a vessel like that??

In my "episode", I musta been tryin' to "catch up on my quota of stupid tricks" - not only did I space out the chrome thing, but I migged it in a small 8x10 room with no exhaust fan at all

Guess they're right about God watching over children and fools... Steve

 

[dstig1]

I noted both disposables and reusables so that people could have options and know they are both OK. If you are not going to do the particular task again, then you may not want to spend the money on a reusable. For my taste, I rarely use a disposable as I have a few reusables at hand all the time and I find the fit and comfort a lot better. It is the approval level that matters, then after that it is up to you to decide on features/comfort that you are willing to pay for.

Bukit - I rather doubt you had a sudden case of Hex Chrome poisoning from such a small exposure. Hex chrome is more of a long term issue that builds up from continual exposure over a long period of time. There was probably something else going on there, and perhaps not even related to your welding work. That said, I pretty much always wear a respirator (reusable) when welding. I found I was feeling ill afterwards if I did not, so that was an easy call. And no more blowing out black boogers later on! For a quick tack of a couple bolts, I doubt I would pull it out, but anything significant, I always do.

Edit: I'm going to try to remember to talk with one of the Industrial Hygenists at work on Mon about the Hex chrome thing to get a better idea of the real full story. Especially since i have a bunch of SS work coming up in the spring myself! I'll post back when I have something.