The WHS Regulation requires duty holders to work through the hierarchy of control measures when managing the reduction of exposure to welding fume in the workplace. The hierarchy of control ranks the control measures from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest:
While the highest levels of controls (elimination and substitution) within the ‘hierarchy of control’ give the highest level of protection and reliability in many industries, they are often not practicable or possible when it comes to welding fume.
Even when you can mitigate risk through the higher controls, if there is welding to be done, welding fume will be present.
As a result, we see that in the welding industry, the highest levels of control can often only mitigate the risks associated with welding fume, making the introduction of product controls essential.
To examine the Hierarchy of Control from a welding perspective with clear and tangible examples, AWS has launched the Practical Guide to Welding Fume Control to offer workers clear and actionable guidance on product control selection as it relates to their specific needs and situation.
Download the Practical Guide to Welding Fume Control here
