[TheForge] Safety concerns - zinc

[Larry Brown]

About ten years ago I had a job at work that involved welding a lot of 
galvo pipe into frames. Even though it was out side it was still hard to 
keep ventilated with a fan next to me. I got them to buy a positive 
pressure helmet for me, has a fan that sucks air in through a rated set of 
filters and blows it across your face so the fumes can't come in since the 
air is going out. You look like an alien wearing this, scares kids good. 
Wasn't cheap by any means but it worked well. For a weld or two I usually 
use a face mask by 3M rated for metal fumes.
The helmet with the blower will chap your nose and cheeks in the winter, 
need moisturizer
Larry Brown



At 03:51 PM 5/12/2005 -0400, you wrote:
>Thanx, Ralph, Jock filled me in a bit more since my last post, as did Glenn.
>I guess he thought he had enough ventilation, but the gasser put out some
>nasty fumes. I've smelled that crap welding down in a tunnel and told the
>boss it wasn't safe and insisted on ventilation and ear plugs for my whole
>crew when we were using Ram-Set guns in an enclosed space. Mandate: "No one
>gets hurt on my job= work safe or your ass is fired." The boss couldn't
>argue when I bought safety equipment for everyone.
>
>Ron C
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ralph Douglass
>Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 2:36 PM
>To: Sponsored by ABANA
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] Safety concerns - zinc
>
>gblacksmith wrote:
> >
> > Ron:  Did he become ill after a single exposure?   Grant
>
>Jim has several other issues that did not help COPD as well as some
>heart problems.
>Before Jim was put in the hostpital we spoke a bit. He was doing as well
>as could be considering he had just poisoned himself.
>I think the 'fume fever' opened him up to pnuemonia ( double at that).
>
>Safe to assume that even one exposure can kill. That way we will not get
>complacent. Just my 2 cents worth.
>
>Ralph
>--
>"Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
>Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision."