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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Is galvanneal safe to weld on?

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Q. I work for a large company that builds military vehicles. in our process we have to weld on galvanneal parts. It was brought up during a safety audit that galvanneal causes unsafe fumes during the welding process. since part of the welding is done during assembly and in the open while other people are working on the truck within a couple feet of the welding. I am asking, should we be concerned?

Carl Hopfensperger
safety rep at assembly plant - Brillion, Wisconsin, USA
June 3, 2009

A. Hi, Carl. Zinc is not poison, it is an essential micronutrient. But like with other things, overdoses are possible and can cause the welder to get "metal fume fever". It is not currently widely believed that this causes permanent damage, but personally, I feel that anything that makes someone sick is completely unacceptable. I believe this white smoke/fume is visible. If there is no smoke visible, I see no likelihood of nearby workers getting metal fume fever, but I think those fumes should be captured and exhausted with effective smoke suckers rather than letting assembly workers breathe them. Then again, personal opinion is that this should apply to all welding fumes, regardless of whether zinc and galvanizing are involved.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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