呼吸焊接烟雾的健康风险
Welding fumes are very fine particles of metal oxides, and their composition depends on the type of metal being welded. In addition to the general harm of welding fumes once trapped in the lungs, some metal fumes are particularly hazardous, such as nickel, chromium, and manganese. Exposure to welding fumes can cause Pneumonia, Metal Fume Fever, Asthma, COPD, cancer, etc. In fact, welding fume-caused cancer is one of the top 10 occupational cancers in Australia.
然而，焊接是行业中最常见的活动之一，例如造船厂、建筑、汽车、航空航天和维护。因此，大量工人可能接触焊接烟雾，需要采取有效行动来保护他们。
为了解决这一严重的工作健康问题，澳大利亚政府对焊接烟雾实施了新的工作场所暴露标准（WES），以更好地保护工人：从之前的 5 mg/m3 到目前的 1 mg/m3。
保护选项
有两个主要选项：
- 局部排气通风 (LEV)：尽可能安装和使用 LEV。
- 使用有效的呼吸防护设备 (RPE)
最安全、最佳的做法是同时拥有两者。
哪种 RPE 应与焊接头盔/镜片结合使用？
由于焊接烟雾中含有细小颗粒，N95 级一次性口罩被认为是不够的。
弹性体无动力空气净化呼吸器 (NAPR) 比一次性面罩更好，因为弹性体面罩的软垫可提供更好的密封性。然而，作为负压面罩，本身对面部泄漏敏感，因此防护仍然不够可靠。此外，大多数 NAPR 面罩主体上都有笨重的过滤器，这可能会干扰头盔的镜片。 NAPR 在长时间工作时也会感到呼吸不舒服，因为过滤器会给呼吸带来额外的负担，尤其是在炎热的条件下。
针对焊接烟雾的新 WES 很可能会要求在许多 LEV 措施不切实际或不充分的焊接场所使用电动空气净化呼吸器 (PAPR)。
Lastly, welding fumes are accumulative in the lungs, and the tightened 1mg/m3 limit does not mean it is a safe limit, it is only a legal maximum upper limit to be taken as a starting point. So if welding is part of your regular work, the safest approach is to always wear the best welding mask respirator available.
考虑到上述所有因素，焊接面罩与合适的电动空气净化呼吸器 (PAPR) 相结合是焊接防护的最佳选择。这是因为：
- 由于面罩内正压，PAPR 比负压呼吸器具有更高的防护能力。
- 在炎热条件下呼吸更容易、更凉爽，因此在进行艰苦的焊接工作时佩戴更舒适。
Currently, a popular option consists of a Welding Helmet with an Integrated Loose-fitting Powered Air-purifying Respirator. With this option, the helmet is specially made consisting of a loose-fitting visor for respiratory and face protection, a lens for eye protection, and an air entry at the back of the helmet to receive the air produced by a PAPR that is mounted at the back of the waist and secured by a belt, with filtered air being delivered via a hose to the helmet. A popular brand of this option is a 3M Speedglas G5-01 TW Heavy-Duty Flip-Up Welding Helmet plus an Adflo PAPR unit.
但是，此选项存在一些问题：
- 防护等级不是同类中最高的：由于它是松配合的 PAPR，标称防护系数为 500，而紧配合的 PAPR 为 2000。
- Expensive: at a retail price starting over $2,000.
- 如果您已经有一个普通的焊接头盔，添加这样的 PAPR 保护意味着您必须废弃您的旧伙伴：浪费金钱，而且对环境不利。
- 由于 PAPR 装置笨重且背面软管较长，佩戴起来很麻烦，活动性也很差。
- 噪音很大，因为 Adflo PAPR 以恒定流量运行，这意味着持续存在烦人的噪音。
AYO WX HFM-W Welding Half-Face Mask PAPR System – The Perfect Solution for Welding Fume Protection
Invented, designed, and fine-tuned in Australia, AYO WX HFM-W is a state-of-the-art Breath-responsive PAPR that suits welding fume protection extremely well due to the following advantages over the 3M Speedglas – Adflo PAPR system:
- 一流的防护：作为一款紧身面罩，其标称防护系数超过 2000 (PAPR P3)，而 3M Speedglas – Adflo 宽松 PAPR 系统的防护系数为 500。
- Fraction of the cost: $559 vs >$2,000 for the 3M Speedglas/Adflo system
- A low-profile half mask designed specifically compatible with most common welding helmets plus a neck-peripheral mounted AYO WX PAPR P3 main unit: beneficial to many welders who currently have a common welding helmet already but now wish to use a PAPR for better respiratory protection.
- Much improved mobility and comfort: No hose, no belt, and lighter.
- Aimwell 的智能呼吸响应流量控制算法可确保面罩内始终保持正压，峰值流量超过 200 L/min，同时在呼气和每次吸气后期将噪音保持在最低水平。
- 电池运行时间更长：16 小时，而 3M Adflo PAPR 为 12 小时。
- 使用寿命：>10 年，而 3M Adflo PAPR 为 5 年。
In Summary:
| Key Comparison | 3M Speedglas G5-01 TW Heavy-Duty Flip-Up Welding Helmet with Adflo PAPR (Loose-fitting) |
AYO WX HFM-W Welding Half-Face Mask PAPR System (Tight-fitting or loose-fitting) |
| Protection Class |
EN12941 TH3, MPF: 50 Nominal Protection Factor: 500 |
AS/NZS 1716 PAPR P3 MPF: > 100 (tight-fitting), 50 (no Fit Testing) Nominal Protection Factor: 2000 (tight-fitting) |
| Wearability/Mobility |
Heavy with hose and belt, troublesome to don and doff, and poor mobility
|
Lightweight and low-profile, no hose no belt, easy to don and doff, good mobility
|
| Welding Helmet | Integrated | Existing non-integrated |
| Peak flow | 170 – 200 L/min | > 200 L/min (Breath responsive) |
| 电池运行时间 | 12 hours | 长达 16 小时 |
| Weight | 2.13kg (Helmet 1kg, PAPR 1.1kg) – not including hose) | 1.26kg (Helmet 0.54kg (typical), PAPR+half-face mask 0.72kg) |
| Fit Testing | Not required | Depending on the level of protection needed |
| Fitting type | Loose-fitting only, can not be converted to tight-fitting PAPR if needed. | Tight-fitting but can attach a loose-fitting Face Seal for beard-covering. |
| Maintenance | Difficult to maintain and clean | Much easier to maintain and clean |
| 使用寿命 | 5年 | 10年 |
| Cost | $2195 | $559 |
Aimwell AYO WX HFM-W Welding PAPR P3 – A New Standard in Welding Fume Protection.
Quick Steps to Use AYO WX HFM-W Welding PAPR P3 with a Common Welding Helmet
- 使用前给电池充电。
- Fit the mask assembly over the face and tighten the strap at the back of the neck.
- Remove the Guard Link from the Main Unit, wake it up by pressing its On/Off button, then slide the Main Unit down against the back of your head until it rests on the two supporting hooks of the head strap.
- 将面罩推入主机的两端。
- Adjust the height of the Hook to ensure a well-balanced support for the Main Unit and the mask.
- Put on the Welding Helmet and you are ready to weld safely.