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Welding
Because their work inherently involves exposure to superheated metal, welders are at special risk for occupational injury. The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say a major occupational safety risk for welders and those who work around them may be manganism, or manganese poisoning, from the fumes created by some types of welding. The fumes cause irreversible damage to the part of the brain that controls body movements, causing stiffness, trembling in the limbs and face, slowness and impaired balance that gets progressively worse. For that reason, manganism is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease. There is no cure, but employers can prevent manganese poisoning (also called secondary Parkinsonism) by providing proper ventilation in work areas and respirators for welders.
Fast Facts
| Accident type: | Burns; eyesight damage; exposure to unsafe fumes, gases and particles; fires and explosions |
| Common injury: | Manganese poisoning (also known as secondary Parkinsonism); corneal flash burns; metal fume fever; skin burns |
| Occupations: | Welders, metal workers |
| Treatment: | Protective equipment and proper ventilation can prevent injury, but there is no cure for manganese poisoning. |
| Related topics: | Welding rod litigation, workers' compensation, occupational disease, construction site accidents |
Dangers Associated with the Welding Profession
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Books Related to Welding
Welding: Principles and Applications, Fifth Edition
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