Blogs

  • ControlPro Connect: what is it, and what can it do for you?
    ControlPro Connect: what is it, and what can it do for you? 02 March 2022

    High-quality extraction and ventilation systems are an important part of a safe, healthy and productive factory environment. This is especially true when it comes to performing challenging, physically demanding, high-precision tasks, such as welding and burnishing.

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  • Nuisances while performing welding jobs?
    Nuisances while performing welding jobs? 11 February 2022

    How Plymovent’s extraction and ventilation systems make the difference.

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  • Safe welding rules also help fight viruses
    Safe welding rules also help fight viruses 25 November 2020

    It is common sense to keep welding fumes in the breathing zone of a welder below a certain limit [1]. Personal protection, source extraction and good general ventilation are the essentials for completing a welding job as safely as possible. Everybody should realise that personal protection is as important if not more so at this time, as Covid-19 (or the “coronavirus”) continues to spread worldwide.

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  • The Environmental Protection Agency
    The Environmental Protection Agency 22 October 2019

    The Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA or, more commonly, EPA) is an independent agency in the United States entrusted with the mission of protecting human health and the environment. You’re right to imagine that this can encompass many different things. They dedicate themselves to topics as diverse as air, water and land, chemicals and toxics, waste and cleanup.

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  • Hexavalent chromium (Chromium 6) also found in welding fumes
    Hexavalent chromium (Chromium 6) also found in welding fumes 04 June 2019

    What is hexavalent chromium & how to act for best protection.
    A recent case (early February 2019) of financial compensation for 800 workers who have been exposed to the hazardous hexavalent chromium in the workshop of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NedTrain-department) in Tilburg, the Netherlands, has again put the spotlight on the danger of this substance.

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  • Using flexible welding fume extraction arms
    Using flexible welding fume extraction arms 06 May 2019

    At-source extraction protects workers in the metal industry and prevents the accumulation of welding fumes, oil mist or grinding dust in the workspace. The use of flexible extraction arms is a good method of removing dangerous fumes and dust when working on small or medium sized objects. These arms can be positioned close to the work area to capture toxic fumes, dust particles and remains of molten metal at the source. Capturing fumes and dust at the source also prevents pollution from spreading over the premises, keeping not only machines and tools but also products and offices cleaner.

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  • Why airflow monitoring is important
    Why airflow monitoring is important 23 April 2019

    In previous blogs we have written about protection methods for welders, like extraction arms or hoods for local exhaust ventilation and welding helmets with PAPR units. When you provide your workers with protection equipment, you may think that you have taken the necessary steps to ensure their safety. But, how can you be certain that the equipment is working as it should and your workers are not exposed to dangerous levels of carcinogenic fumes?

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  • New evidence: welding fumes can cause lung cancer
    New evidence: welding fumes can cause lung cancer 11 March 2019

    When metals are heated above their melting point, they vaporize and condense into welding fumes. Most people know that these welding fumes are unhealthy and dangerous. Although not everybody in the metal industry – and in other lines of work where welding is done – is fully aware of the dangers, most of them are familiar with local exhaust ventilation and personal protection equipment to minimize the health risks that are involved with welding.

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  • New Diesel Engine Technology and Ultrafine Particles
    New Diesel Engine Technology and Ultrafine Particles 11 January 2019

    Over the years, modern diesel engines have become cleaner. Or in other words: they have become less pollutable and emit less hazardous fumes. Diesel engines even emit less carbon dioxide than gasoline engines and many diesel engine manufacturers claim that most of the harm of diesel exhaust has been reduced.

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  • Metal fume fever. What is it and how to prevent it?
    Metal fume fever. What is it and how to prevent it? 29 October 2018

    Metal fume fever is a benign, self-limiting occupational respiratory disease that results from the inhalation of fine metal particles. Whilst the exact mechanism for this condition is not known, the primary cause is thought to relate to the inhalation of zinc oxide fumes produced when zinc-coated steel or zinc-containing alloys (e.g. brass) are heated to high temperatures. A variety of other names for this condition is used, such as copper fever, brazier’s disease, welder’s ague, foundry fever, brass chills and spelter shakes.

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  • Helping to keep firefighters healthy during cover assignments
    Helping to keep firefighters healthy during cover assignments 21 August 2018

    Last year, leading US firefighter advocate Billy Goldfeder wrote an article on the importance of having compatible systems among fire departments with automatic or mutual aid agreements:

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  • Supplied air respirators provide the best all-around protection
    Supplied air respirators provide the best all-around protection 23 July 2018

    Welders must be protected against hazardous welding fumes. Depending on the welding environment or how and what is welded, welders can be protected by systems for source extraction and general filtration and ventilation. Also, they can be protected by respiratory protective equipment (RPE), such as welding helmets with fresh air supply. Supplied air respirators are known to provide the best all-around protection for the welders themselves.

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