Page 64 - Australian Paint & Panel March-April 2020

Products
64
PAINT&PANEL MARCH / APRIL 2020 WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
PRODUCTS
SUPAGAS
Supagas is a leading supplier of LPG, industrial, medical, specialty and helium gases in Australia. It provides gases for many industries including the automotive industry. These gases are used in many aspects of the automotive industry, nitrogen in racing tyres to avoid large fluctuations in tyre pressures, refrigerants for air conditioners and welding gases.
The most important aspect of choos- ing the correct gas for welding is the base material. In the past cars were generally constructed of steel, but with time the automotive industry has evolved into using many different materials: steel; high tensile steel, aluminium, plas- tic and carbon fibre.
By utilising high tensile steel, it al- lows manufacturers to use thinner ma- terial while maintaining the same strength, thus reducing weight. When repairing cars with these materials, the correct gas and welding wires need to be utilised as to not affect the structural integrity. Welding gases not only shield the welding arc from the atmosphere, they play a role in how the arc reacts, the mechanical properties and the shape of the weld.
There are multiple factors to consider when choosing the appropriate gas for welding jobs including the base and filler materials. Always remember to consider all factors when choosing your welding gas and seek advice from professionals when needed.
For more information visit: supagas. com.au or call 13 78 72.
WELDING
FUMES ARE CARCINOGENIC, ENSURE YOUR TECHNICIANS ARE PROTECTED WITH GOOD QUALITY PPE.
Since welding fume was reclassified as carcinogenic in early 2017, there continue to be new developments in the study of short and long-term effects of welding fume exposure. Most notably, a 2019 statistical analysis concluded that welders have a ‘43% increased risk of lung cancer regardless of the type of steel welded, the welding process or time period.’
With that said, now that so much more is known about the dangers of welding fume expo- sure, the technicians themselves are in a signifi- cantly better position to make more informed de- cisions about their safety.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
As a panel technician you should aim to educate yourself on the risks, identify the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and ultimately look to involve yourself in the consultation process and selection of PPE at your workplace.
As an employer you have a responsibility to ensure, where feasible, that your workers are not exposed to health and safety risks while on the job. This begins with ensuring air monitoring is carried out to determine the airborne concen- tration of harmful substances in your workplace relative to exposure standards. You can then limit the health risks by introducing engineering or administrative controls such as extract venti- lation and the use of suitable PPE.
THE RIGHT RESPIRATORY PPE
In Australia and New Zealand, respirators are
rated based on a required minimum protection factor (RMPF). This reflects the level to which the respirator protects the wearer from surrounding pollutants. For instance, a disposable or reusable respirator has an RMPF of 10, meaning it will afford the wearer 10 times cleaner breathing air than they would otherwise inhale if unprotected.
A 3M Speedglas weldinghHelmet with an Adflo powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) has an RMPF of 50 when correctly worn. This means it supplies air a minimum 50 times cleaner than the welder would otherwise be breathing unprotected.
NON-WELDING APPLICATIONS
Of course, there are several non-welding tasks that also pose respiratory hazards. Panel technicians, joiners and many more all require appropriate PPE to limit their exposure to harmful dust and fumes: for these workers, the 3M Versaflo M-Series visors with Adflo PAPR are an ideal fit.
Lightweight, compact and well balanced, these high impact headtops offer integrated face and res- piratory protection as well as optional head and hearing protection. This in turn has made them pop- ular for many applications: compliant with all the relevant Australian and New Zealand standards (AS/NZS 1716:2012), they are a well-rounded solu- tion for the range of respiratory hazards you may encounter in your workplace.
For more information visit: awsi.com.au