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more_legal_areas welding-rodWelding rod selection is an important issue when it comes to welding rod injuries and safety. Welding rod injuries are often the result of overexposure to toxic fumes, including manganese. Overexposure to this metal''s noxious fumes can cause Manganism or Parkinsonism. This debilitating disease mimics Parkinson''s disease; a chronic disease which affects the central nervous system and severely impairs motor functioning.
Being informed of these hazards can be important during the process of welding rod selection. As with anything that is potentially dangerous, the more you know about the risks involved and the precautions to take, the better chance you have of avoiding hazardous consequences. For this reason, safe welding rod selection can be aided by consulting the Material Safety Data Sheet on different welding rods. This will provide detailed information about hazardous ingredients, decompositions and by-products, signs and symptoms of exposure, health hazard ratings, and control measures.
Another important element of welding rod selection is choosing products with a seal of approval on them. If a welding product meets safety standards it will most likely be approved by the National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA) or the Underwriters Laboratories (UL). If you look for these endorsements during welding rod selection it will assure you that you are using safely designed products that comply with safety standards.
It is possible that during welding rod selection you may be unable to find welding rods that are free of potentially hazardous materials, including metals like manganese, zinc, lead, admium, mercury, beryllium, chromium, and nickel. If you find this is true of your welding rod selection it is important to follow all safety precautions. These safety measures include: properly installing all welding equipment, providing adequate ventilation in your work environment, knowing what types of metals you are working with and their level of hazard, fire prevention, and sufficient personal protection.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set limits on the levels of manganese exposure that are considered safe. The safety threshold limit for manganese exposure is five milligrams per cubic meter during a typical workweek of eight hours a day, five days a week. Knowing this might help in welding rod selection. There are medical tests, including the MRI, which can test levels of manganese exposure.
Even by arming yourself with lots of information during welding rod selection, it is still possible to suffer injuries or develop serious health conditions resulting from welding rod fume exposure. Though welding rod manufacturers have known the effects of harmful fumes on welders since 1837, they continue to deny their product''s consequential medical injuries. If you have suffered from a welding rod injury, perhaps even despite your well informed decision regarding welding rod selection, you may be eligible to seek recovery of damages for your injuries or physical suffering.