Do you have a solder fume problem?

“When inhaled, rosin-based solder fume can lead to occupational asthma or make existing asthmatic conditions worse. The fume can also cause irritation to the eyes and upper respiratory tract.

Rosin-based solder fume is now regarded as one of the most important causes of occupational asthma in Britain. When the asthmatic effects are fully developed they are permanent and irreversible. Continued exposure, even to very small amounts of solder fume, may cause asthma attacks and the person affected may be unable to do any soldering with rosin-based fluxes again.”

www.HSE.gov.uk

Do you require a solder fume extraction system?

With all solder fume extractor systems we offer:

• BENCHMARK guarantees of performance
• User training on how to operate the dust extraction system and to carryout regular service checks on the solder fume extractor
• Full documentation including:
  • Operating and maintenance manuals for the solder fume extractor & equipment installed
  • Commissioning reports
  • User manuals & Log books containing all the information on the solder fume extraction system

We also undertake repair, servicing and COSHH Testing (Thorough Examination and Test) of all makes of fume extractors.

For modifications to existing solder fume extraction systems please give us a call on 0117 971 21 63.

Why bother?

Summary

An employee developed occupational asthma after working for a large multi-national company in Gloucester. He was employed between 1995 and 2004 as a solderer and was exposed to rosin based (colophony) solder fume during his career.

His health was deteriorating from 1999 onwards and he was taking time off work due to breathing difficulties

HSE investigation

The company did not have adequate control measures in place and failed to install fume extraction equipment to remove rosin based fumes from the workroom air or from the breathing zones of its solderers.

The company did not substitute the rosin based solder with rosin free solder until December 2003, despite an assessment having identified the need to in 1999

Employees, including the asthma suffer were not placed under a health surveillance scheme at any time..

Effects

As a result of action taken by HSE the company was fined £100,000 with £30,000 costs. This attracted local and national media attention.

Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/solderer.htm