12/23/2023 0 Comments Hexavalent chromium hazards![]() ![]() Upon completion of the training program, trainees will be able to recognize and successfully prioritize health hazards associated with welding on chromium-containing alloys and to use the appropriate workplace controls, such as effective use of local exhaust ventilation (LEV). The HexChEC Exposure Assessment Tool, which is also available as a poster, is only to be used as a guideline and not to be relied upon for compliance purposes. If possible, viewers should have a copy of the HexChEC Exposure Assessment Tool for Stainless Steel Welders (see inside front cover of this booklet) when watching Modules 1, 2, and 3. Objectives, summaries, discussion questions, and talking points are provided for each video module. Begin by showing a module and refer to the questions and talking points in this booklet to help lead a discussion about the video. Little preparation is required, and no extra materials are needed. The six video modules were developed so they can be viewed either all in one sitting or one at a time, such as during sequential safety briefings. Module 3: Effective Applications of LEV.Module 2: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV).Module 1: HexChEC Exposure Assessment Tool.Most of the modules are intended for an audience of welders and their supervisors those concerned with how L&I’s chrome 6 regulations apply to their workplace may be most interested in Module 5. The HexChEC video is divided into six customized modules, each 10 minutes or less. Adopting these practices will also make it easier for employers to comply with the new chrome 6 regulation enforced by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and good work practices can reduce welders’ exposure to chrome 6 and other hazardous welding fumes. The HexChEC training package is designed to assist welders, supervisors, and safety officers in recognizing conditions that make overexposure to chrome 6 likely, so that appropriate controls can be effectively used to reduce exposures. This training package, Hexavalent Chromium Exposure Control: Best Practices for Welders (HexChEC), is a video-based program developed to raise awareness among Washington state welders and their employers about chrome 6, the standard, health effects of exposure, and best practices for exposure control-with an emphasis on local exhaust ventilation. Working safely with chrome 6 is a shared responsibility for welders, engineers, employers, and safety officers. The previous PEL was actually 100 μg/m3 for chromates (a form of chrome 6), which corresponds to 52 μg/m3 as chromium. The regulation also outlines other requirements to protect workers from exposure. In order to reduce occupational exposure to chrome 6, in February 2006, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) implemented a standard, which significantly lowered the permissible exposure limit (PEL) from 50 to 5 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). Research has shown that workers exposed to chrome 6 are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer, and welders are the largest worker population potentially exposed to this known carcinogen. Exposure to fumes from welding, cutting, and other hot metal work is a recognized hazard for welders, and chrome 6 has been receiving increased attention from federal and state agencies in charge of protecting workers’ health. Hexavalent chromium, or chrome 6, is a form of chromium that can be found in welding fume when “hot work” is done on metals, such as stainless steel, that contain chromium. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Other References Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) VendorsĪcronyms American Welding Society (AWS) Terminologyįunding and support for this project has been provided by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries’ Safety & Health Investment Projects. Introduction: Getting to Know Chrome 6 Module 1: HexChEC Exposure Assessment Tool Module 2: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Module 3: Effective Applications of LEV Module 4: Other Control Measures Module 5: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries’ (L&I) Chrome 6 Regulation Click on the 'collection' button to access the other items. ![]() Produced by Washington State Labor and Industries' Safety and Health Investment Project with the University of Washington. An instructor guide, poster and six videos on hexavalent chromium exposure monitoring results, providing weld shops with objective data to evaluate potential hazards. ![]()
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