Page 32 - Australian Paint & Panel Magazine May-June 2019

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Tech Talk • Fume Extraction
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PAINT&PANEL MAY / JUNE 2019 WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
WHY FUME EXTRACTION
IS VITAL
EXPLOSIVE MIX
Automotive grades of alumini- um are alloyed with different substrates for differing strengths, the 6000 series aluminium is alloyed with bauxite and magnesium and silicon. The 5000 is alloyed with bauxite, magne- sium and manganese. The fine dust emit- ted when sanding aluminium will float for a very long time in the workshop and is very explosive if it comes into contact with an ignition source which could be as simple as a welding spark or static spark. Any extraction system used for al- uminium dust must be a non-static sys- tem where the dust collector is separate to
the motor driving the extraction system.
2LONG-TERM EFFECTS
When welding automotive steels or aluminium the weld zone gives off harmful fumes. There can cause metal welding fever where technicians will feel lethargic often with flu-like symp- toms. But there are more long-term health effects from welding without ad- equate fume extraction or respirators.
Prolonged exposure to welding fumes may cause lung damage and various types of cancers, including lung, larynx and uri- nary tract. Health effects from certain fumes may include, stomach ulcers, kid- 3ney damage and nervous system damage.
ALUMINIUM FUMES CAUSE...
Welding aluminium produces gases and particles which are harmful, extrac- tion is vital to protect the welder. When welding aluminium materials, alumini- um oxide is formed from the filler mate- rial and the base material. The alumini- um oxides are present in the welding fumes. The oxide occurs in the form of spherical particles. Breathing in these particles can put a strain on respiratory
HERE ARE EIGHT REASONS YOU SHOULD PROTECT STAFF BY HAVING FUME EXTRACTION. AIR FED UNITS WILL PROTECT THE PERSON WELDING BUT NOT OTHER STAFF IN THE WORKSHOP.
tracts and affect lungs if the particles are deposited there. Respiratory diseases such as bronchitis can also occur. The dust deposits can even bring about irre- versible aluminosis, also known as alu- minium lung. Another issue is ozone. Ozone is a highly toxic, chemically reac- tive gas, and can cause lung damage. It is produced from oxygen in the atmosphere around the welding area. Control of ex- posure to ozone can be difficult. It should be noted that cell damage due to ozone inhalation is permanent and irreversible.
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have a particular smell. These odours are added to products so you are aware you are inhaling them and are encour- aged to use fume extraction or respira- tors. If you can no longer smell a product you have become desensitised, which means you have no idea it is harming you any more. A respirator may protect the person applying the product but the fumes are now also present within the nearby area which can affect others. Us- ing fume extraction will protect every- body in the workshop.
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composites in vehicle construction includ- ing carbon fibre and reinforced plastics. Any product which contains fibre for strength will have adverse effects if in- haled when sanding the products. The dust is far lighter than steel dust and will float through a workshop for hours. With- out sufficient fume extraction at the job these hazards are spread throughout the workshop. Carbon fibre dust can irritate eyes, throat and skin and the fine fibres in the dust can become embeded in a techni- cian’s lungs. Carbon fibres are electrically conductive, and dust or waste can cause
short-circuits within electrical equip- ment. The fibres can be attracted to elec- tronic components on other vehicles near- by and cause short circuits.
Failing to use an extraction system when working with composites can cause black lung disease. Inhaling carbon particles can irritate the lungs and cause coughing.
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cause an adverse effect on our environ- ment. By using filtered extraction sys- tems, we take the pollution that is ex- pelled and clean the air being released. This makes our workplace a far cleaner healthier environment to work in.
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filling agent. Various filling agents can be used and when reference is made to polyester or epoxy fillers, it’s the resin which is being referenced. Filling agents such as Styrene and Q-cell are found in body filler and can be highly toxic, es- pecially if an individual is exposed to it at high concentrations. Short-term expo- sure can cause eye, skin, and respirato- ry irritation, as well as gastrointesti- nal effects.
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
All products we use in our industry
SENSE OF SMELL?
All products used in our industry
COMPOSITES CONCERNS
Our industry uses several different
ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS
The potential health and safety
risks range from short term effects such as irritant contact dermatitis, headaches and nausea to extremely serious conditions such as lung cancer, damage to the reproductive system, kidney or liver, and 'painter's syndrome' (which affects the brain). Spraying of primers and paints outside of an extracted down draft booth will lead to all technicians inhaling these vapours. This also applies to cleaning products used in the detailing section such as mag wheel and glass cleaners.
BODY FILLER DUST
Body fillers consist of resins and a