N95 masks for welding ?

[capntom62]

HR just mentioned to me that our TIG welders should be wearing N95 masks when welding 304 / 316 SS. In all of my 40 yrs of welding I have never heard of this. I have had air quality testing performed to make sure ventilation systems ae working, but never under a helmet.

I have used positive pressure helmets before for welding on galvanized or repairing products that have been painted.
Please educate me.
Of course when you do a Google search they come up as being used for that, UGH.

 

[EdStainless]

Pointless. If they are in a confined area, then they need positive ventilation.
The reason is related to Cr vapor.
The EU is big on this, but I have tested and never seen levels that were even detectable.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[DVWE]

Agree with Ed.

The concern when welding chromium alloyed materials is hexavalent chromium exposure, but this is typically only a problem present with welding processes that use a flux (i.e. FCAW and SMAW). Generally not a problem with GTAW, and certainly not anything an N95 mask will help to mitigate.

The devil is in the details; she also wears prada.

 

[EdStainless]

I'll ad that he only time that I have seen this as an issue is doing manual weld overlay using NiCr on the inside of a vessel.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[mfgenggear]

Taking an educated guess just about evert metal put out there when welded produces some type poisonous vapor.
Some worst than others. But I don't
Know how bad.

 

[TugboatEng]

All respirators will have a particulate rating (N, R, or P). However, there are additional ratings outside of the NIOSH scope. Perhaps you should consider a respirator that provides ozone protection.

https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/2390524O/respiratory-protection-for-ozone.pdf