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KMID : 0382419990250040051
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Korean Journal of Environmental Health Society
1999 Volume.25 No. 4 p.51 ~ p.58
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A Study on Worker Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation in Arc Welding Operation
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Abstract
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This study was conducted to investigate workers´ exposure levels to ultraviolet radiation(UVR) in shipbuilding industry and constriction equipment manufacturing industry which utilized CO_2-arc welding, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and tungsten inert gas(TIG) welding, and to evaluate the effects of various variables on the UVR intensity. The UVR inadiance by welding type, measured in the front of welders with shielding helmet, were highest in CO_2-Arc welding and followed by SMAW and TIG welding. UVR irradiance decreased by distance from welding operations. But at same distance, UVR irradiance showed various values by direction of measurements. Especially UVR irradiance was highest at right side of workers. The most important variable, in determining the UVR irradiace, was heat energy(kW) combined with arc current and arc voltage. In laboratory test, heat energy was positively correlated with UVR irradiance(r=0.90, p<0.01) in the condition of local ventilation. As the proportion of CO_2 in shielding gas mixed with pure Ar and CO_2 increased from 5% to 13%, the irradiance of UVR was decreased by 49.5%. In conclusion, to evaluate correctly the exposure level to UVR irradiance, various variables affecting UVR irradiance such as arc current and voltage, wire type, shielding gas, distance and direction of measurement should be considered. Especially not to underestimate workers´ exposure to UVR in arc welding environment, we should measure UVR irradiance in direction of right side which has the lowest possibility of arc-interception.
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