Do you want help choosing the right welding arm for you and your business? We can help! We’ve put together this guide explaining what they are and which processes they’re ideal for.
What is a Welding Arm?
A welding arm is a capture method of local exhaust ventilation, typically known as LEV. It captures dust and fumes directly at source and removes them from the welder’s breathing zone. LEV system Find out more about our Welding Fume Extraction.
With a variety of different welding techniques, including Gas, MMA, FCA, MIG welding, MAG, TIG welding, stick welding or arc welding, in addition to a variety of welding torches, welding fume extractor systems are always recommended to safely remove the fume away from the working environment.
Hose Extraction Arms
Hose extraction arms are ideal for welding processes, particularly where there are predominantly fumes being captured. They are capable of light dust from grinding processes, but not recommended. This is primarily down to the nature of the material the hose the arm’s made from being prone to tears with heavier use.
Tubular Extraction Arms
Whilst tubular extraction arms are ideal for more heavy duty processes, such as welding and grinding processes. This is because the smooth tubular internal bore is less prone to damage from captured airborne contaminants that are pulled through the extraction system.
Both kinds of welding fume extraction systems are appropriate and effective extraction solutions for welding fume, it all depends on how much grinding or dust extraction is required to whether or not tubular or hose extraction arms are required.
What Do The HSE Recommend?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommend that welding fumes are extracted after it came to light that fumes produced from the welding process are carcinogenic. In a report produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), it was found that welding fumes cause two different types of cancer in humans; in both the lung and kidney.
In addition, in 2019 the HSE released the STSU1 – 2019: Change in Enforcement Expectations for Mild Steel Welding Fume safety alert, which stated: There is no known level of safe exposure.” The alert also states that employers should: “Make sure exposure to any welding fume released is adequately controlled using engineering controls (typically LEV).”
In the HSE’s WL3: Welding Fume Control guidance it recommends that “Good Control Practice” is to “Provide LEV where reasonably Practicable.
 | Request a FREE LEV Site Assessment
We’ll call to arrange a convenient time and date to visit your site. We’ll analyse your working processes, assess the substances used and the contaminants generated. We’ll work out how best to control the dust and fume in a way that’s in line with your COSHH risk assessment. Next, we’ll design you a comprehensive LEV system that adheres to HSG258 guidance and send this you to via email. We’ll do all this to ensure we fully understand your dust and fume extraction requirements and help you to provide a pollution-free workplace! This is an amazing service we do for thousands of businesses throughout the UK and Ireland every year. We work with such a wide variety of industries, from manufacturing, industrial, woodworking, pharmaceutical and automotive workshops to schools, colleges and military establishments. Request your FREE, no-obligation LEV site assessment today! |
Why Choose Auto Extract Systems?
Auto Extract Systems is the UK’s leading LEV company in workshop extraction. Over the last 20 years, we’ve helped thousands of businesses create pollution-free workplaces, and avoid a costly fee for intervention fines.
We are experts in all things LEV, we can help your business become COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulation 2002 compliant with a tailored LEV solution. We provide comprehensive design, installation, maintenance and certification services across a range of industry sectors. Find out more about us here.
