BULLETIN BOARD

03/2023

EU survey on carcinogenic welding fumes

Following the IIW and the EWA, the DVS has now also called upon its members to participate in the survey of the European Commission regarding the consequences of a carcinogen classification of all welding fumes. Other associations such as BDI, VDMA, DECHEMA, STAHL, etc. are also in the planning stage. Talks are also being held with the „member state authorities“, i.e. the BMAS.

What is the background for this survey?

End 2022 ECHA has delivered a „Scoping Study Report“ to the European Commission (EC). The report assesses recent medical, technical and OSH data, concluding with „option“ recommendations to the EC, on how to better control exposure to welding fumes. The most far-reaching option foresees the classification of welding fumes as „substance“ or the welding activity as „process“ under Annex I of the new Carcinogens, Mutagens or Reprotoxic substances Directive (CMRD). Link:
https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/7399806/report_welding_fumes_en.pdf
Jan 2023: following its process for establishing new OELs under CMRD , the EC now started a public survey among all member states to also understand the socio-economic impact of such a regulatory change. The survey addresses welding companies, OSH experts, member state authorities. Link to survey homepage for welding companies:
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Welding

The survey will run until March 27, 2023, and depending on how „threatening“ companies describe the impact of the planned regulatory changes, the EU will weigh the pros and cons of specific OEL options.

At this point, it is not clear how drastic the OEL changes will be. The formulations of Luca Costa, as CEO of the IIW, are probably most apt here:
„The introduction of new Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) and limit values for workers exposed to carcinogens, mutagens or reprotoxic substances, including welding fumes, could have far-reaching consequences for the industry and the whole welding sector.“

Importantly for us, the term „welding fume“ used here extends well beyond MIG/MAG welding; the study specifies the following scope:

„Welding“ fumes is defined (by ECHA, 2022) as fumes from the following activities:

Fusion welding (gas welding, arc welding (MIG, MAG, SMAW, FCAW, SAW, ESW, SW), arc welding (TIG, PAW), beam welding
Soldering (soft soldering, hard soldering)
Brazing (>450°C, Laser beam brazing, Brazing with an electric arc (MIG, TIG, plasma))
Thermal cutting or gouging
Thermal spraying
Flame straightening
Additive production processes

Link to the DVS survey:
Jetzt an EU-Umfrage zu Arbeitsplatzgrenzwerten teilnehmen - DVS - Deutscher Verband für Schweißen und verwandte Verfahren e.V.:
https://www.dvs-home.de/themen-neuigkeiten/neuigkeiten/detail/dvs-ruft-zur-teilnahme-an-eu-umfrage-auf

Direct link under:
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Welding