Fumes and Smoke
Overview
Applications such as soldering, welding and laser etching create occupational fumes and smoke that can have a devastating impact on worker health. Long-term exposure to these toxins can lead to serious chronic health problems and exacerbate existing conditions.
Failure to mitigate the danger of fumes may dramatically shorten the career and lives of workers. Government organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have regulations in place to protect employees from the devastating impact of toxic chemicals in the workplace. Yet despite these rules, many businesses still expose their workers to unhealthy levels of hazardous fumes and smoke.
Health Risks Associated with Occupational Fumes and Smoke
Cutting metal or heating solder wire creates smoke that poses inhalation risks. How dangerous these contaminants are depends on the type of material employed. Many applications such as laser etching and soldering use hazardous metals such as lead, cadmium, zinc, copper and antimony.
Occupational fumes can irritate the nose, throat, eyes, mouth, skin and respiratory organs. Warning signs that a workers has been exposed to unhealthy levels include:
- Watery, Irritated Eyes
- Runny, Stuffy Nose
- Sore Throat
- Coughing, Wheezing
- Chest Tightness, Breathlessness
Prolonged exposure can cause a buildup of toxic metals in the body leading to conditions such as lead poisoning and kidney problems. Other potentially fatal diseases linked to occupational fumes include urinary tract cancer, lung cancer, respiratory disease and nervous system disorders.
Solutions for Controlling Fumes and Smoke
To protect worker health, businesses must find solutions to control dangerous fumes and smoke. Source capture systems like Quatro’s laser fume extractors and solder smoke fume extractors effectively contain these contaminants while air purifiers help improve overall indoor air quality (IAQ).
Laser Units
Heavy Duty & Odors
Discover our wide range of heavy duty fume extraction and filtration solutions for laser applications.
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Soldering Units
Light, Medium and Heavy Duty
Effective light, medium and heavy duty multi-station fume extraction solutions for the safe capture of solder fumes.
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Stand Alone Units
Hoods & Containment Systems
Solutions where floor space is limited. Effective source capture / containment systems. Ideal for laboratories.
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Multi-Purpose Units
Versatile Extractors/Collectors
Highly versatile fume extractor / dust collector units ideal for use with multiple applications.
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