New Research into Welding Safety

New Research into Welding Safety

New research into welding safety is underway, with the NSW Government's Centre for Work Health and Safety examining how exposure to welding fumes affects workers across welding industries and occupations in Australia.

Following a recent reclassification of welding fumes from "possibly carcinogenic to humans" to "carcinogenic to humans", more information is needed to understand long-term health effects of fume exposure among welders and related trades.

What the Study Will Investigate

Investigators will examine how various industries and workers use personal protective equipment to manage hazards linked to welding fumes. Findings will help shape practical control measures that reduce risk on real job sites.

Together with Curtin University and the University of Sydney, the centre is researching what controls businesses currently rely on and how well those systems perform, so appropriate control measures can be designed to minimise exposure and protect worker health.

Effective control systems typically address:

• Ventilation systems and extraction equipment near welding tasks
• Respiratory protective equipment suited to specific hazardous fume levels
• Training on safe work practices for handling electrical equipment and welding tools
• Monitoring systems to track ongoing exposure and health outcomes

Why the Reclassification Matters

Reclassification came from a specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which concluded there is sufficient evidence in humans to support that welding fume can cause cancer in the lungs, alongside a positive association observed with kidney cancer.

This shift has significant implications for how employers approach health and safety obligations, particularly around electrical safety, fume extraction systems and broader hazard management on worksites where welding occurs regularly.

Businesses seeking to strengthen their compliance approach can review our Stick Welding SWMS and Spot Welding SWMS resources, which outline systems for managing welding-related hazards on site.

Read the original article on the SafeWork NSW website.

Grape Growers Urged to Ensure Safety This Pruning Season

Staying COVID-safe, supporting vulnerable workers and ensuring labour-hire workers are treated fairly forms the focus of an online information session on 10 June, designed to help businesses meet health and safety obligations during pruning season.

Hosted by WorkSafe, the Department of Health and the Labour Hire Authority, representatives from the Australian Table Grape Association, Agriculture Victoria and the Victorian Farmers Federation will be available to answer questions growers may have about compliance systems and worksite obligations.

Inspection Program Details

Ensuring providers had COVID-safe plans in place, alongside checking licence status and conditions for labour-hire workers, formed part of a three-day inspection program in the Robinvale area from 22–24 June.

Growers are encouraged to attend these sessions, which help people understand their responsibilities and offer guidance on making workplaces safer for everyone involved, including seasonal and labour-hire staff.

Labour Hire Licensing Commissioner Steve Dargavel said: "The horticulture industry is experiencing new challenges, and we want to help ensure businesses in the Robinvale area can continue to operate safely, smoothly and fairly."

For growers looking to formalise their own workplace procedures, our Safe Work Method Statement templates provide a practical starting point for documenting site-specific hazards and control measures.

Read the original article on the WorkSafe Victoria website.