- Joined
- Nov 14, 2014
- Messages
- 851
well, finally recovering from inhaling ozone and welding byproducts from a small welding job (Lincoln tombstone stick welder with 6018 rod) three weeks ago. I was finishing a few miscellaneous welds - nothing big- maybe two or three sticks (rods) worth of work on a 12" gauge RR bridge structure I've been building. However, the welds were deep inside the structure, so I was overhead, upside down and backwards applying the stinger. After I got done realized I had inhaled a bunch of black soot. My mine exhaust fan didn't blow the smoke away until after I breathed my fair share, due to my close proximity directly over the weld site.
Almost immediately that night I developed a sore throat and multitude of shooting pains across the top of my head. 10days latter the sore throat and pains gradually subsidized. Two weeks in lungs started filling up with liquid and congestion, to the point I couldn't lay down at night to sleep, due to wheezing and lack of oxygen absorption in the lungs. Finally now Iam mostly recovered.
So three things: ozone inhalation apparently occurs when UV from the welding spark comes in contact with air- creating high amounts of localized ozone. It supposedly dissipates rapidly. However I was directly in the ozone zone, hence overexposure. Secondly, the welding byproducts, including ozone, created something analogous to a chemical burn in my air passages and lungs. This takes three to four weeks to heal completely, depending on exposure - and results in pneumonia like lung infections, and swollen airways passages, all of which restricts oxygen intake and makes life generally miserable. Finally, the initial damage from inhalation opens up opportunities for secondary infections - in my case I believe I contracted a fairly debilitating allergic reaction to secondary allegens from the spring leaf out here in the PNW. The allergy reaction lodged in the smoke inhalation sites and magnified the initial irritation, restricting my ability to breath, two weeks after the initial damage. So I ended up with a massive week long chest congestion, big time sinus attack, and three weeks of headaches, sore throat, and constricted airways due to inflammation.
Long bunch of whining, wheezing actually, above. But my point is, you gotta take all the safety precautions every time-regardless of how small the project is. Or risk getting laid up. Tomorrow will hopefully be my first day back on my feet.
Regarding equipment - I haven't yet found a face mask that works with eye glasses under my welding hood. Every one I've ever tried fogs up my glasses within a few seconds, rendering it impossible to see what Iam welding. So I don't use one. Now Iam going to see if I can find a respirator that works with eye glasses. (Open to suggestions!)
Second take away - NEVER, violate the fresh air rule. If the weld is hard to reach - Move the work or relocate the fan to keep welding byproducts out of your face. (I always weld with the overhead shop door open and the work piece right in the door way - with a portable high intensity, mine exhaust ventilation fan blowing over the work piece. ) But, you can't sit on top of the weld and block the fan and expect the thing to work! Move the damn workpiece so the weld is downstream from the airflow!!
Glenn
Almost immediately that night I developed a sore throat and multitude of shooting pains across the top of my head. 10days latter the sore throat and pains gradually subsidized. Two weeks in lungs started filling up with liquid and congestion, to the point I couldn't lay down at night to sleep, due to wheezing and lack of oxygen absorption in the lungs. Finally now Iam mostly recovered.
So three things: ozone inhalation apparently occurs when UV from the welding spark comes in contact with air- creating high amounts of localized ozone. It supposedly dissipates rapidly. However I was directly in the ozone zone, hence overexposure. Secondly, the welding byproducts, including ozone, created something analogous to a chemical burn in my air passages and lungs. This takes three to four weeks to heal completely, depending on exposure - and results in pneumonia like lung infections, and swollen airways passages, all of which restricts oxygen intake and makes life generally miserable. Finally, the initial damage from inhalation opens up opportunities for secondary infections - in my case I believe I contracted a fairly debilitating allergic reaction to secondary allegens from the spring leaf out here in the PNW. The allergy reaction lodged in the smoke inhalation sites and magnified the initial irritation, restricting my ability to breath, two weeks after the initial damage. So I ended up with a massive week long chest congestion, big time sinus attack, and three weeks of headaches, sore throat, and constricted airways due to inflammation.
Long bunch of whining, wheezing actually, above. But my point is, you gotta take all the safety precautions every time-regardless of how small the project is. Or risk getting laid up. Tomorrow will hopefully be my first day back on my feet.
Regarding equipment - I haven't yet found a face mask that works with eye glasses under my welding hood. Every one I've ever tried fogs up my glasses within a few seconds, rendering it impossible to see what Iam welding. So I don't use one. Now Iam going to see if I can find a respirator that works with eye glasses. (Open to suggestions!)
Second take away - NEVER, violate the fresh air rule. If the weld is hard to reach - Move the work or relocate the fan to keep welding byproducts out of your face. (I always weld with the overhead shop door open and the work piece right in the door way - with a portable high intensity, mine exhaust ventilation fan blowing over the work piece. ) But, you can't sit on top of the weld and block the fan and expect the thing to work! Move the damn workpiece so the weld is downstream from the airflow!!
Glenn
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