There are no ‘safe’ welding fumes, and while local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems may meet WorkSafe standards, on-gun fume extraction is one of the safest and most effective methods of controlling welding fume says NZ Safety Blackwoods.
“All updates from WorkSafe now use the wording ‘fume capture’, not ‘fume extraction’,” says Roy Ford, NZ Safety Blackwoods’ regional power tool and welding specialist. “With on-gun systems like Translas, fume is removed directly at source, giving you a very high capture rate, which benefits not only the welder but everyone else in the factory.”
The Translas On-gun Fume Extraction System has a fume capture rate of up to 98% with a 100% duty cycle.
“These results are scientifically proven, with a peer-reviewed study published in the Safety Journal in 2023,” says Sean Maher, sales manager at Apex Welding Safety, a key supply partner with NZ Safety Blackwoods, looking after training and installation of Translas equipment. “We wrote a white paper on the study that discusses the results and provides clear and actionable guidance on how best to control welding fume.”
Meeting WorkSafe standards
The risks posed by welding fume are serious, and excessive exposure can cause multiple types of cancer, including in the lungs, larynx and urinary tract. Welding fumes can also cause serious long-term health effects like lung function abnormalities, stomach ulcers, and kidney and nervous system damage.
WorkSafe is actively enforcing the standards, coming down harder on non-compliance.
Standard LEV systems have inherent limitations in their effectiveness; fume arms and hoods must be positioned as close as possible to the source to maximise capture rates, and also be the right design for the process and type of fumes.
Lightweight for greater productivity
“With LEV systems, welders have to constantly move the capture nozzle,” says Ford. “It takes time, and the effectiveness relies on how focused they are at repositioning the capture nozzle throughout the day.”
“Translas guns have a lightweight, ergonomic design that is the same weight as or lighter than a traditional welding gun,” says Maher. “This follows the welder as they move, providing continuous fume capture on a 100% duty cycle.”
For the welder, this translates to increased productivity in a number of ways. There is no moving of extraction devices, and extraction at source creates a vortex around the torch, keeping the tip cooler. This means tips and tip adaptors need to be replaced less frequently, saving time and cost.
Easy maintenance
Built with Dutch engineering, Translas on-gun fume extraction is a high-quality system designed for maximum performance and minimal maintenance. Maher says, “With a built-in variable-frequency drive motor and programmed logic chip, it maintains the capture rate regardless of filter load. It uses a brushless motor, and also has a self-cleaning filter when connected to compressed air, so there is no need for back-end servicing.”
For more information email translas@nzsafetyblackwoods.co.nz or phone 0800 660 660.