• Half of demand for the shipbuilding program will be for welders.
AWS
    Half of demand for the shipbuilding program will be for welders. AWS
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In March 2017, scientists from around the world met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer to evaluate the carcinogenicity of welding fume.

According to a white paper released by AWS, welding fume has now been reclassified from “possibly carcinogenic to humans” to its new Group 1 classification as “carcinogenic to humans” based on substantial new evidence through observational and experimental studies. The working group concluded that there is “sufficient evidence in humans” that welding fumes cause lung cancer and limited evidence for kidney cancer.

Current Australian exposure standards have not been revised since the reclassification of welding fume by the IARC.
Respirators are rated based on a Required Minimum Protection Factor (RMPF) in Australian standards. This indicates, if properly worn, the level to which the respirator protects the wearer from the surrounding pollutants.

Supplied air respirators provide the welder with a RMPF of 100, meaning these systems deliver air to the welder that is at least 100 times cleaner than the air in the surrounding environment. To put this into perspective, disposable and reusable respirators have a RMPF of 10.

After hearing the news regarding the reclassification of welding fume by the IARC, AWS has decided that it will reposition the 3M Speedglas 9100XXi Air Powered Air Purifying Respirator with a sharper price point to help make powered air respiratory protection more affordable for Aussie and Kiwi welders.

The device is currently sold for roughly $1900.

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