Author Identifier (ORCID)
Matthew Oosthuizen: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9375-9117
Adelle Liebenberg: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0467-9412
Kiam Padamsey: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5151-5600
Marcus Cattani: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7586-7288
Andy McCarthy: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8011-0562
Jacques Oosthuizen: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1589-5957
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyse the Western Australian (WA) Safety Regulatory System (SRS) database to assess compliance of the WA mining sector regarding workers exposure to welding fumes and to identify trends over time. De-identified data analysed to assess the impact of reducing workplace exposure standards (WES) for general welding fumes on industry compliance. Historical trend analysis shows a shift from 100% compliance to 100% non-compliance, based on mean values and 95% confidence intervals, with exposure levels remaining consistent over time. These findings highlight the need for current, innovative engineering solutions, and raise questions about the validity of current sampling methods. Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) integrated with welding helmets can reduce exposures by up to 99.96%, making their adoption as industry best practice critical, yet current sampling methodologies measure welding fume levels outside PAPRs, thus potentially misclassifying workers who are adequately protected as non-compliant. The sampling method is also influenced by other particulate matter present in the workplace that may be due to grinding or other dust generating activities in the vicinity of the welder. Lower WES values necessitate a review of exposure assessment and reporting methods to accurately reflect worker exposures.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
8-1-2025
Volume
22
Issue
8
Publication Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher
MDPI
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
82742
Funders
Edith Cowan University (G1007466)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Oosthuizen, M., Staples, K., Liebenberg, A., Padamsey, K., Cattani, M., McCarthy, A., & Oosthuizen, J. (2025). Welding fume in the Western Australian mining industry: Impact of a change to the workplace exposure standard. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081238