Powered air respirator campaign promotes welder protection

The dangers of welding fume to the respiratory health of welders is now established, as is outlined in a recent white paper released by research and manufacturing company 3M and which is freely available via 3M Australian wholesaler AWS’s website (www.awsi.com.au/welding-safety-white-papers). As David Chippendale, Director of Marketing and Sales at AWS, explained: “In March 2017, scientists from around the world met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC; Lyon, France) to evaluate the carcinogenicity of welding fume. Based on substantial new evidence through observational and experimental studies, welding fume was reclassified from “possibly carcinogenic to humans” as it was originally classified in 1989 to its new Group 1 classification as “Carcinogenic to Humans”. The reclassification of welding fume has encouraged many welders and workplaces to rethink their stance on welders’ respiratory protection.”

This ‘rethink’ that the reclassification of welding fume has caused across the industry has inspired an upgrade campaign from AWS, known as the ‘3M Speedglas Powered Air Upgrade Campaign’. 3M’s Speedglas Heavy-duty Welding Helmet G5-01 marks the 5th generation of Speedglas welding helmets and is designed to provide professional welders with comfort, protection and adaptability. It includes technology such as ‘Variable Colour’, ‘Climate Flow Control’, ‘Optional Task Light’, ‘Configurable Protection’ and Bluetooth connectivity, and can be customised to individual welding environments. The helmet and welding lens are also available in an upgrade kit that can connect directly to existing Adflo respirators. Designed for high-amperage, heavy-duty welding, the helmet comes with the Adflo powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) and provides welders up to 12 hours of continuous respiratory protection against welding fumes, with a Required Minimum Protection Factor (RMPF) of 50.

Regarding the significance of the level of protection that is provided by 3M’s Speedglas Heavy-duty Welding Helmet G5-01, and the value of this updated campaign to professional welders, Chippendale explained: “Respirators are rated based on a required minimum protection factor (RMPF) in Australian Standard AS/NZS1715. This indicates, if properly worn, the level to which the respirator protects the wearer from the surrounding pollutants. Powered air purifying respirators if correctly worn have an RMPF of 50, meaning that they supply air a minimum 50 times cleaner than the welder would otherwise be breathing unprotected. To put this into perspective, disposable and half-face re-usable respirators have an RMPF of 10 if properly fitted and worn. Therefore, disposable and re-usable half-face respirators provide 1/5th of the protection of a powered air respirator.

“Whether you are an existing Speedglas powered air customer or you are considering powered air welding respiratory protection for the first time, this upgrade campaign has something for you. The powered air upgrade campaign centres around the new 3M Speedglas Heavy-Duty Welding Helmet G5-01. During March and April 2020, distributors all around the country are running Speedglas G5-01 UPGRADE campaigns to make the ‘switch’ or ‘step-up’ easier than ever before. If you have been considering upgrading to powered air or would like to take a look at the new 3M Speedglas G5-01 Heavy Duty Welding Helmet, March and April [2020] is the time.”

Chippendale also explained that when the Speedglas brand was released in 1981, almost 40 years ago, it was “the first ever auto-darkening welding helmet and has consistently set the benchmark ever since. Every day, hundreds of thousands of welders rely on Speedglas powered air purifying respirators to keep themselves safe, improve productivity and perform at their best.” Chippendale said that “the reaction from distributors to support this campaign has been massive. Distributors all around the country are offering all types of deals ranging from trade-in deals to value-add offers.

“Many current Speedglas powered air customers weren’t aware that as an existing Adflo PAPR customer, the most economical way to upgrade to the new Speedglas G5-01 Welding Helmet is by simply upgrading their head-top,” Chippendale said. “Welders can simply attach the upgrade kit (including the G5-01 flip-up helmet and lens) to their existing Adflo PAPR to benefit from all the features of the new Speedglas G5-01 welding helmet at a fraction of the price. So, welders currently using Speedglas powered air have learnt something new and welders new to powered air are being introduced to all the available Speedglas options.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Виталий Сова