Lincoln Electric is reaching out to metal fabricators with a safety and regulatory awareness campaign centered on forthcoming welding-fume standards. It is the second phase of Lincoln’s “Are You Ready?” campaign, which is designed to educate individuals and organizations about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Metal Fabrication Hazardous Air Pollutants (MFHAP) and National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulations that are due to go into effect July 25, 2011.

The NESHAP regulations are stationary-source standards for hazardous air pollutants. With respect to welding operations, the regulations cover welding processes; filler metals, shielding gases, carrier gases, or other process materials; welding process variables; and welding fume capture and control systems.

New EPA, MFHAP and NESHAP regulations scheduled for 2011 will require metal fabricators to reduce air emissions of metal compounds, including chromium, lead, manganese, and nickel, from nine metal fabrication and finishing source categories that affect welders and fabricators. EPA standards identify the compounds as health risks to workers overexposed to fumes emitted by welding processes, and other operations in use for metal fabrication and finishing.

Lincoln’s campaign includes an Are You Ready? interactive web site that presents information and resource material on the subject, invites questions about the processes and regulations, and offers help to organizations preparing to comply with the new EPA regulations. It links visitors to various documentary resources on the subject of welding fume emissions and control, and presents an interactive flow chart that guides them through the EPA rules as they apply to specific operations. A glossary of terms is included, too.

According to Lincoln — a developer and manufacturer of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment — the site is “a resource for those seeking more information on welding fume regulation issues and solutions.”

Lincoln Electric will continue to update the site with additional information and resources throughout 2010 and 2011, including whitepapers, videos, user tools and other valuable information regarding weld fume control and welding safety.

An e-mail address is available for users with specific questions or needing more information. Lincoln’s technology and process experts will answer questions according to their specialty

In addition to the new site, Lincoln Electric is planning to present seminars for plant managers, engineers, hygienists, welding supervisors and operators, to address the emerging regulations, welding fume control, welding safety, and related topics.