This morning, media outlets are reporting on a publication by Curtin University on Occupational exposure to welding fume in Australia. We are aware that the report was commissioned by SafeWork New South Wales.
Weld Australia would like to clarify that we had no involvement in the production of this report. We did not supply any data, contribute to its content, nor were we given the opportunity by Curtin University to review its findings.
Weld Australia knows that our members are not reflected in any way in the report published by Curtin University. Our members obey the law, which states that the workplace exposure standard for welding fumes is an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 1 mg/m3. Australia’s Occupational Health and Safety standards for welding are some of the highest in the world.
Weld Australia members do everything they can to ensure the safety of their staff and welders.
The methodology employed to produce the report is questionable at best: an online survey distributed via social media. Just 634 people responded to the survey—equivalent to less than 1% of the welding industry in Australia.
Curtin University did not visit welding workshops, did not undertake fume exposure monitoring or measurement, and did not seek technical input from occupational hygienists. The findings can only be classified as extremely unreliable.
Unsurprisingly, the data presented in Curtin University’s report does not correlate to any data collected by Weld Australia, or the International Institute of Welding (IIW), over the last 30 years. We know our data is accurate because it is based on comprehensive industry databases.
As the Responsible International Institute of Welding (IIW) representative in Australia, Weld Australia is at the forefront of global welder safety best practice. We regularly participate in international research and development programs designed to improve welding fume safety practices.
Weld Australia first published its Welding Fume Minimisation Guidelines in 1997, and updates these regularly, including as recently as in April 2024. Established by Weld Australia in early 2019, the Welding Safety Council regularly brings together industry and legislative safety authorities to discuss issues and work collaboratively to identify solutions. By drawing together key government stakeholders, statutory bodies and industry into a single independent body focused on eradicating welding related injury, the Australian welding industry continues to take significant steps forward in protecting both the general public and welders.
Weld Australia has also developed and released two comprehensive online welder safety training courses. These courses cover a raft of activities across a range of welding processes, including welding fume safety. The courses are freely available via: https://weldtraining.online/
Welding can and should be considered a safe occupation. When proper precautions are taken—as we know our members do—welders have no cause to fear accident or injury.