Plasma Cutting Stainless Steel Hazards

Oxy fuel and plasma cutting along with brazing are related to welding as they all involve the.

Plasma cutting stainless steel hazards.

13 plasma cutting generates fume gases noise and ultraviolet radiation uv hazards. The chromium content in stainless steel and the health risks associated with overexposure to chromium make periodic air monitoring in the welder s breathing zone a. Pressure welding uses heat along with impact type pressure to join the pieces. When mild steel is cut with o2 air the viscosity of the molten material is much lower than when cutting stainless steel.

Cutting of stainless steel is potentially the most hazardous as the fumes will contain chromium and nickel. 14 the nature of fume depends upon the metal being cut and upon any coatings. Handling dross and piercing. Thermit welding uses a chemical reaction to produce intense heat instead of using gas fuel or electric current.

Working with stainless steel can pose a greater threat to workers than other metals. Chromium metal is added to alloy steel to increase. With an edge start plasma can cut up to about 160mm. A new rule aims to give workers more information about exposure to hexavalent chromium a carcinogen released when stainless steel is welded cut with a plasma torch or cast.

Cr vi is known to cause cancer. It is also a hobby for many metal cutting enthusiasts. Because it s a thermal cutting process it produces plasma cutting smoke. It is usually produced by an industrial process.

Hexavalent chromium cr vi is one of the valence states 6 of the element chromium. Plasma cutting is one of the most popular processes for cutting steel and other metals in many manufacturing shops. This document does not deal with uv hazards. Iron steel cast iron and copper.

The federal occupational safety and health administration changed its notification requirements in. In addition it targets the respiratory system kidneys liver skin and eyes. One danger of cutting galvanized steel is metal fume fever a condition caused by the released zinc fumes. The hidden dangers of plasma cutting smoke.

Precision plasma can pierce and cut stainless steel up to around 40mm and high amperage plasma systems can pierce and cut stainless steel up to around 100mm. This is especially true for thicker stainless steel plates where plasma cutting is almost universally considered the best solution. Plasma arc cutting hazards. The condition usually only lasts a single day according to the occupational safety and health administration with workers most susceptible after several days away from the work environment.