Anti fumes welding helmet
Intro
Welding fumes contains carcinogens and breathing them in while working can cause various cancers.
Welding indoors comes with its risks and dangers. Research shows that those who weld indoors wears a welding helmet/shield only when working. Only a small percentage of people would wear a separate respirator underneath it, which means most people are prone to breathing welding fumes and other carcinogenic gasses. Breathing such gasses increases the risk of getting various cancers and shorten the welder's life. I want to integrate the helmet with a respirator in a smart way that does not make it bulky to wear and make it efficient to use so that welders can be safer when working.
Why: As much as there are regulations and protocols, welders still suffer from welding fumes over time and possibly receive cancer.
How: Talk to various welders from different shops and people who suffered from inhaling welding fumes.
What: Improved protection gears that prevents inhalation of welding fumes.
Success: Decrease in chances of inhaling fumes and does not feel sick from welding continuously.
Cancers receivable from welding fumes
Lung Cancer: 16%
Mesothelioma: 78%
Bladder Cancer: 40%
Kidney Cancer: 30%
Knowing that there's a high chance for all these cancers to develop in the welder's body, a better plan for fumes prevention is necessary to ensure people can work safer and live longer.
ANSI guidelines for welding (respiration)
4.5 Respiratory Protective Equipment. When controls such as ventilation fail to reduce air contaminants to allowable levels or when the implementation of such controls are not feasible, respiratory protective equipment shall be used to protect personnel from hazardous concentrations of airborne contaminants.
4.5.1 Only approved respiratory protective equipment shall be used.
4.5.2 Whenever the use of respirators is required, a program to establish the proper selection and use of respirators shall be implemented.
4.5.3 Compressed air for air supplied respirators or other breathing equipment shall at least meet the Grade D requirements of the Compressed Gas Association ANSI/CGA G-7.1, Commodity Specification for Air.
4.6 Training. Persons exposed to welding hazards shall be trained in the use of, and understand the reasons for, protective clothing and equipment.
Possible solutions
or
As most welders wear this kind of modern, solar powered welding helmet, it is only natural to add on parts to it as the improved solution. I can either incorporate a non bulky respirator onto the helmet, or built in an external fan that blows away any toxic fumes near it so it doesn't end up in the welder's body.
Understanding the welding helmet
Solar and battery powered
Arc sensors with switchable lens shade
Auto on/off
Wide viewing area with auto darkening lens
Oversize, weighted form with paddings for comfort inside
Initial sketches
First attempt to incorporate a respirator within the helmet, but there's still more aspects of the design to consider.