Guidelines for Developing a Welding and Cutting Safety Program | EHS... https://www.ehstoday.com/safety/article/21910678/guidelines-for-develo...

by Laura H. Rhodes, Ed.D., CSP, and David P. Rhodes, M.A., CSP, CPCU, PHR

Cutting and welding tasks are performed either on a routine or infrequent basis in all industrial and commercial environments by maintenance personnel or contractors during the fabrication process, equipment repair or facility maintenance operations. OSHA reports that welding, cutting and brazing are hazardous activities that pose a unique combination of both safety and health risks to more than 500,000 workers in a wide variety of industries. The risk from fatal injuries alone is
more than four deaths per 1,000 workers over a working lifetime.1 Up to 25 percent of fatalities in shipyards result from fires and explosions caused by hot work, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).2

An example of the result of uncontrolled safety and health hazards and poor work practices is reviewed in OSHA Fatal Facts Accident Summary No. 25. A welder entered a steel pipe (24-inch diameter) to grind a bad weld at a valve about 30 feet from the entry point. Before he entered, other crewmembers decided to add oxygen to the pipe near the bad weld. He had been grinding intermittently for about 5 minutes when a fire broke out and enveloped his clothing. Another crewmember
pulled him 30 feet to the pipe entrance and extinguished the fire. However, the welder died the next day from his burns.

Tragedies such as these can be prevented if companies develop a welding and cutting safety program in the workplace using OSHA's Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines issued in January 1989 as a point of reference.3 These voluntary guidelines outline what OSHA has established to represent the contents and framework for safety and health program excellence. The guidelines stem from OSHA's experience in evaluating worksites through its state-run consultation
projects and Voluntary Protection Programs.

The guidelines outline a management system to identify and control hazards on a proactive basis using four major program elements:

Management leadership and employee involvement;

Worksite analysis;
Hazard prevention and control; and
Training.

OSHA defines "hot work" as any work that involves burning, welding, using fire or spark-producing tools, or that produces a source of ignition.4 We'll use these four basics elements of a safety and health program to identify the hazards associated with hot work activities and the hazard controls and associated best practices required to prevent injuries and illnesses in the general industry work environment. OSHA has developed a Safety and Health Management System eTool an
interactive, Web-based training tool available at www.osha.gov to provide guidance to employers on the recommended components of an occupational safety and health program.

Management Leadership and Employee Involvement

Management leadership and employee involvement are complementary. Management leadership provides the motivating force and the resources for organizing and controlling activities within an organization. In an effective program, management regards worker safety and health as a fundamental value. Employee involvement provides the means through which workers express their own commitment to safety and health, for themselves and their fellow workers.

Management should develop and implement written policies and procedures that outline the work practices and rules required for performing welding and cutting tasks safely in the workplace. OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.252, Welding, Cutting and Brazing General Requirements, requires that management recognize its responsibility for the safe use of cutting and welding equipment on its property and, based on fire potentials of plant facilities, establish areas for cutting and welding
as well as establish procedures for cutting and welding in other areas. In addition, management must designate an individual responsible for authorizing cutting and welding operations in areas not specifically designed for such processes, and insist that cutters or welders and their supervisors are suitably trained in the safe operation of their equipment and the safe use of the process.

Employee involvement provides opportunities for workers to develop and express their own commitment to safety and health, for both themselves and their co-workers. Management should strive to involve employees in all aspects of welding and cutting safety. Examples of employee participation include:

Participating in safety committees that conduct site inspections to identify welding and cutting related hazards;
Preparing safe welding and cutting practices or controls to eliminate or reduce exposure; and
Performing a pre-use or change analysis for new welding and cutting equipment or processes in order to identify hazards up front before use.

Worksite Analysis

Worksite analysis involves a variety of worksite examinations to identify not only existing hazards, but also conditions and operations in which changes might create hazards. Effective safety management practices actively analyze the work and the worksite to anticipate and prevent harmful occurrences. Routine site safety and health inspections are designed to catch hazards missed at other stages. This type of inspection should be done at regular intervals, generally on a weekly basis.
The OSHA Small Business Handbook (OSHA Publication 2209) provides a Welding, Cutting and Brazing Checklist (see excerpt above) that can be used as a point of reference by personnel performing self-inspections of the workplace.

A job hazard analysis (JHA) is another workplace analysis technique that can be used to identify potential hazards in the workplace. A JHA is a technique that focuses on job tasks as a way to identify hazards before they occur. It focuses on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools and the work environment. Ideally, once uncontrolled hazards are identified, you will take steps to eliminate or reduce them to an acceptable risk level. OSHA publication 3071, "Job Hazard
Analysis," provides employers with the framework and necessary tools to perform a JHA of welding and cutting tasks performed in their workplace.

Hazard Prevention and Control

After detection, all current and potential health and safety hazards must be prevented, corrected or controlled. OSHA's recommended systems used to prevent and control hazards include engineering controls, safe work practices, administrative controls, personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency preparation.

Engineering controls are the first and best strategy to control the hazard at its source and can be used to control health hazards from welding, cutting and brazing operations. These hazards include employee exposures to metal fumes and to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Local exhaust ventilation installed at a welding station for the purpose of removing air contaminants generated during the welding process is an example of an engineering control. The segregation of welding and cutting
from other operations in the workplace to prevent employee exposure can be achieved by use non-combustible barrier walls and portable welding screens. Oxygen cylinders in storage can be separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least a half-hour.

Safe work practices include the company's general workplace rules and other operation-specific rules. Management should establish a written rule that only authorized and trained personnel are permitted to use welding, cutting or brazing equipment. Supervisors should ensure that each operator have a copy of and follow the appropriate welding and cutting equipment operating instructions.

While safe work practices can be considered forms of administrative controls, OSHA uses the term administrative controls to mean other measures aimed at reducing employee exposure to hazards. Rotation of workers performing welding and cutting tasks and fire watch tasks is an example of an administrative control. The rotation of workers will limit their potential exposure to safety hazards from welding, cutting and brazing operations including burns, eye damage, electrical shock,
cuts and crushed toes and fingers.

Prior to performing hot work tasks, employers should instruct employees in the use of PPE, fire prevention and protection requirements and the safe use of welding/cutting-related equipment. The workplace safety coordinator should conduct a PPE assessment of hot work tasks that will be performed by employees in the workplace. OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1) requires "that the employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be
present, which necessitate the use of" PPE, and this activity must be documented by the employer. Furthermore, OSHA's cutting and welding-related standards have specific PPE requirements. Hazards associated with welding and cutting may include employee exposure to:

Ultraviolet and infrared radiation

Metal fumes and welding gases
Electrical current
Hot metal
Noise.

OSHA publication 3077, "Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)," is an excellent reference for training employees on the use of PPE in the workplace. PPE should not be used as a substitute for engineering, work practice or administrative controls. Personal protective equipment should be used in conjunction with these controls to provide for employee safety and health in the work place. PPE includes all clothing and other work accessories designed to create a barrier against workplace
hazards. The basic element of any management program for PPE should be an in-depth evaluation of the equipment needed to protect against the hazards at the workplace. Management dedicated to the safety and health of the employees should use that evaluation to set a standard operating procedure for personnel, and then train employees on the protective limitations of PPE, and on its proper use and maintenance.

As a result of the PPE assessment, employees should be required to use PPE including protective eyewear, hand protection and protective clothing. The Cooperative Extension at the University of Arizona advises that it is essential that the operator and helpers be properly clothed and protected because of the heat, ultra-violet rays and sparks produced by the arc welder as illustrated below. 5

Respiratory protection should be provided only if engineering controls are not feasible in the work environment. OSHA's Technical Manual TED 01-00-015 [TED 1-0.15A] (Jan. 20, 1999) includes a section on sampling for welding fumes. Local exhaust or general ventilating systems should be provided and arranged to keep the amount of toxic fumes, gases or dusts below the maximum allowable concentration as specified in 29 CFR 1910.1000.

Management should become aware of possible emergencies and plan the best way to control or prevent the hazards they present. Specific written hazard control programs including a fire prevention plan, emergency action plan and hot work permit program should be developed and implemented in the workplace to address welding and cutting hazards. The fire prevention plan describes the fuel sources (hazardous or other materials) on site that could initiate or contribute to the
spread of a fire, as well as the building systems (such as fixed fire extinguishing systems and alarm systems) in place to control the ignition or spread of a fire. An emergency action plan (EAP) is designed to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. The OSHA Emergency Plans and Procedures eTool provides guidelines on the development of these essential safety plans. It includes an Emergency Action Plan Expert System that will help an
employer to create a simple EAP.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) establishes scientifically based fire prevention and protection consensus codes and standards. An excellent resource for the development of a Hot Work Permit Program is the NFPA 51B Standard for Fire Prevention in Use of Cutting and Welding Processes.6 These standards review the basic precautions and special precautions that should be followed to prevent loss of life and property from uncontrolled welding and cutting loss
exposures. In addition, these standards address the fire protection and prevention responsibilities of welders and cutters, their supervisors (including outside contractors) and those in management on whose property cutting and welding are to be performed.

An employer should develop a "Permit for Cutting and Welding with Portable Gas or Arc Equipment" using NFPA 51B, Appendix A "Suggested Form of Written Cutting and Welding Permit," as a point of reference. This NFPA standard covers the provisions to prevent loss of life and property from fire or explosion as a result of hot work. Before cutting or welding is permitted, the area must be inspected by the individual responsible for the welding and cutting operations, to ensure that
it is a fire safe area. The individual shall designate precautions to be followed in the form of a written permit or other equivalent means. In addition, NFPA 51B requires that the individual verify all fire prevention precautions have been taken; they include that welding and cutting equipment is in good operating condition; no combustible material is within 35 feet; and that nearby personnel and building walls and ceilings are suitably protected against heat, sparks, slag, etc.

The establishment of a fire watch is critical in welding and cutting tasks. Although the cutter or welder has the best opportunity to avoid fire or injury by proper control of the equipment he is using, there are many circumstances in which fire, explosion, or severe injuries would be inevitable if an oxy-fuel gas torch or an electrode were used. Such circumstances can arise in which the cutter or welder may not be aware of (1) proximity or the flammable nature of nearby combustible solids,
liquids or dusts; (2) the presence or development of possible explosive mixtures of flammable gases or vapors and air; or (3) the presence of an oxygen-enriched atmosphere in the location where the work will be performed. The precautions taken by the welder or cutter often will be governed by the desire of others for speed or economy in his work or by the failure of management to emphasize the possible extent or seriousness of a fire in the work area. Therefore, all three the cutter or
welder, his supervisor and management share the responsibility for the safe use of cutting and welding equipment.7

Training

Employees should be provided necessary training prior to being assigned to perform hot work tasks. Specifically, that means how to recognize and evaluate hazards, and the controls to prevent injuries to employees performing welding and cutting tasks in the workplace. OSHA Publication 2254, "Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines," provides a review of mandatory OSHA training required for employees engaged in welding and cutting tasks. These
requirements are summarized below:

Management. Management shall recognize its responsibility for the safe usage of cutting and welding equipment on its property and insist that cutters or welders and their supervisors are suitably trained in the safe operation of their equipment and the safe use of the process.

Personnel. Workers in charge of the oxygen or fuel-gas supply equipment, including generators and oxygen or fuel-gas distribution piping systems shall be instructed by their employers for this important work before being left in charge. Rules and instructions covering the operation and maintenance of oxygen or fuel-gas supply equipment including generators and oxygen or fuel-gas distribution piping systems shall be readily available.

In addition, workers designated to operate resistance welding equipment shall have been properly instructed and judged competent to operate such equipment.

Instruction. Workers designated to operate arc welding equipment shall have been properly instructed and qualified to operate such equipment.

In summary, hot work tasks can create many hazards in the workplace that if left unchecked by an employer may result in serious employee injury and/or illness and significant property damage. An employer can utilize the OSHA Voluntary Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines as a template to develop a welding and cutting safety program in their workplace.

References

1www.osha.gov/SLTC/constructionwelding/index.html

2 www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/shipyard/shiprepair/hotwork/index_hw.html

3 U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, "Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines (Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines; Notice." Federal Register, Vol. 54, No. 16, Jan. 26, 1989, pp. 3904-3916).

4 www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/oilandgas/general_safety/hot_work_welding.html

5 "Arc Welding Safety, NASD Review:" 04/2002. This document is 8818, a series of the Cooperative Extension, the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719. Publication date: May 1989. Lance Fluegel, safety coordinator and Bradley Rein, engineering specialist, the College of Agriculture, the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719. www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d000801-d000900/d000873/d000873.html

6,7 NFPA 51B Standard for Fire Prevention in Use of Cutting and Welding Processes, Chapter 2, Responsibility for Cutting and Welding, 2-1 General, 2003 Edition.

Dr. Laura Helmrich-Rhodes, CSP, is an associate professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Department of Safety Sciences where she teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses; recently developing and delivering a duel-level course "Current Issues in Safety." She is an OSHA-authorized instructor, where a majority of her teaching load rests. Rhodes also oversees senior interns at major corporations in the United States. She is advisor to the Safety Science Honor
Society Rho Sigma Kappa. Her doctoral dissertation, from the University of Pittsburgh in Administrative and Policy Studies, focused on the intersection of the human resources and safety professions.

David P.Rhodes, MA, CSP, CPCU, is an assistant professor/safety consultant at IUP. He is the safety supervisor for the PA/OSHA Consultation Program administered through the Department of Safety Sciences. He has taught undergraduate and graduate level safety sciences courses as well as various OSHA outreach training courses through the Keystone Occupational Safety and Health Training Center. He holds a B.S. in safety sciences and an M.A. in industrial and labor
relations.

1 of 3 16/12/2020, 3:42 pm
Guidelines for Developing a Welding and Cutting Safety Program | EHS... https://www.ehstoday.com/safety/article/21910678/guidelines-for-develo...

2020 has been a year. That’s probably the understatement of the year, closely followed by, “I’ve never been more excited about getting a shot.”

In December 2019, the world was just discovering the novel coronavirus, and most of us were continuing with business as usual. A few months later, most plans were thrown out the window and the country largely ground to a halt because of COVID-19, the virus caused by SARSCoV-2.

Companies collectively rose to the occasion, and so did all of you. You’ve been doing amazing work these past months by finding ways to help the general public while keeping your co-workers and their loved ones safe. We salute you. We know it’s no small feat to balance the daily (and sometimes hourly) needs of a changing workforce and working environment while also focusing on long-term challenges and goals. After all, there are other safety hazards to prevent, and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will continue to enforce all safety precautions.

As 2020 comes to a close, we look back on a year that we won’t soon forget (and will likely feel the reverberations of for years to come). Here are the top 10 issues impacting safety professionals in 2020, as reported in our print magazine, on our website, in one of our digital products, or on one of our social media channels. Our thanks to EHS Today’s editorial staff and all others who contributed to our coverage throughout the year.

Many workers are already required to wear respirators, safety glasses and gloves. Those and other personal protective equipment (PPE) quickly became scarce. In April, media outlets such as Business Insider reported nurses and doctors were wearing garbage bags and reusing N95 respirators, if they were lucky enough to have one at all.

In the spring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the general public wear facemasks to protect themselves from getting and spreading COVID-19 to others when in close contact with people outside the household. The CDC recommended cloth face coverings to ensure those in healthcare and other industries had a fighting chance at securing N95 respirators.

That prompted OSHA to issue temporary guidance permitting extended use or reuse of respirators in certain circumstances and to develop contingencies in case of respirator shortages. Suppliers still haven’t been able to keep up with the increased demand. “Employers should carefully review the OSHA guidance and adjust their respiratory protection practices accordingly,” recommends attorney Bradford T. Hammock with Littler Mendelson PC.

We now know COVID-19 most commonly spreads through close contact with an infected person. In October, the CDC amended the definition of close contact as “someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.”

Social distancing, along with wearing face masks and increased sanitization, are currently our best defenses against COVID-19. Implementing distance of at least 6 feet between workers can be a challenge, however, as workspaces have largely been designed for space optimization rather than maintaining safe distance. EHS professionals and company executives have worked to find a variety of ways to help employees keep their distance from others to reduce the possibly of catching or
spreading COVID-19.

Companies have staggered shift starts and breaks to help reduce large gatherings of employees. Schedules have been altered so people are working in teams to help contain potential outbreaks. The number of employees in the building or on the floor at any given time may be lowered to ensure distance can be maintained. Workflows have been reconfigured. Conference rooms have been turned to break rooms. And while some of these measures may be temporary, they may offer long-
term benefits.

“The same tools that help manufacturers cope with new safety rules can deliver added benefits over the longer term,” notes Ray Almgren, COO of Swift Sensors, a developer of cloud-based wireless sensor systems for industrial applications. “Adapting to the new normal in manufacturing is a challenge, but the result can be a safer workforce in a plant that operates more efficiently, protects its resources better and can recover from the downturn faster.”

For years, as wearable devices like fitness trackers and smart watches dominated the consumer spaces, companies explored what impact those or similar devices could have on the workplace. COVID-19 has offered practical applications that are driving the market.

EHS research and consulting firm Verdantix reports that year-on-year growth rates for connected worker solutions now range from 30% to 200%.

“When we surveyed 102 buyers of industrial wearables in 2019, only 6% planned to increase spending by 10% or more,” comments Hugo Fuller, Verdantix analyst.

Companies hoping to curb the spread of or isolate exposure to COVID-19 are turning to connected worker solutions that can enhance contact tracing. Wearable wristbands and badges can alert workers when they are too close. Employees can use the device platforms to self-report infection, and deidentified location information can alert other employees who were in close proximity to self-isolate and seek testing.

These devices can also be used for reporting accidents or near misses in real time and offer just-in-time learning or servicing with augmented reality (AR) technology. AR allows employees to see what to do and, in some instances, connects them with a specialist who can help troubleshoot potentially without being on site. That can lower close contact and even lead to faster repairs.

The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, among many others, are changing the conversation of race and racism in America.

Following their murders, people erected memorials and murals around the globe. They also took to the streets to protest racism, biases and police brutality. This movement has carried over into the workplace. Several company executives have spoken to employees and their customers about realities long ignored and oft brushed aside in the workplace.

“We can’t afford to stand on the sidelines. As human beings, we have an obligation to take an active role as to what’s going on in our country,” says Jaime Irick, PPG vice president, architectural coatings, U.S. and Canada. “We have been having frank conversations, up and down the organization. As a Black executive for about 20 years, I have always had these conversations and now everyone at the company is doing the same. We talk about perceptions and we talk about unconscious
bias.”

These conversations aren’t always comfortable, and efforts to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace require both time and money. It’s noteworthy that during a global pandemic, which has disproportionately affected people of color, the American Medical Association has declared racism a public health crisis. Employers have an obligation to keep their employees safe at the workplace, and that includes fall hazards, COVID-19 and racism.

COVID-19 has demonstrated a need for employees and employers alike to address the issue of mental health. While some companies have programs in place, there is still opportunity for improvement.

In August, the CDC announced that almost 41% of all adults in the United States are struggling with their mental health or substance use, double what had been historically reported pre-pandemic.

A separate study conducted by APNORC and SAP found that of 1,015 surveyed employees, about one-fourth were considering quitting their job.

“In dealing with COVID-19, it’s important to formalize the fact that we are all experiencing some level of anxiety, loneliness and isolation,” says Darcy Gruttadaro, J.D., director of the Center for Workplace Mental Health, American Psychiatric Association Foundation. “Normalizing these feelings helps people feel comfortable in sharing their feelings. And if the top leadership is open as well, it helps create a culture that can address mental health issues.”

In addition to the pandemic, there is an ongoing mental health crisis in construction. The CDC released a study in January 2020 that found the total suicide rate among all men was 27.4 individuals per 100,000. The rate was 49.4 for men who worked in construction.

Communication has assumed even greater importance during a pandemic. It’s how management can convey new protocols to employees who are no longer gathering in the break room and as regular meetings may be altered to adhere to social distancing measures. Employers need to be able to describe changes in existing practices as well as new policies or procedures that have been enacted to protect employees. These new measures have been updated or refined over the past nine
months as scientists, healthcare providers and public health experts have learned more about COVID-19.

“In times like these, communication can make or break your health and safety program,” writes Angelo Cianfrocco, an environmental, health and safety professional. “Effective and timely communication will go a long way to helping you get your message out, while also providing a system for employees and managers alike to count on for guidance, knowledge and advice.”

Employees who are working remotely have made it even more important for employers to be able to communicate frequently across their workforce. Depending on the diversity of the workforce, that could mean disseminating information in multiple languages. New technology (apps, text alerts) or devices (wearables) may need to be deployed to ensure everyone has access to the latest information in a method they can understand.

Communication can go a long way to reassuring employees that it is safe to come to work, that what they are doing matters, and that they will have access to resources or care should they need it. Two-way communication is especially important to prevent an outbreak in the event of COVID-19 exposure.

Standard training procedures may no longer be possible. COVID-19 has forced companies to systematically review, rethink and reimagine employee onboarding and training. Virtual learning offers a chance for companies to create standardized documents and videos to ensure all employees have a baseline knowledge of proper safety protocols.

Virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) allow employees to learn without putting them in potentially unsafe situations. VR/AR technology can support just-in-time learning to teach employees in a more flexible, on-demand and accessible format. The technology lends itself to gamification to create fun, immersive and potentially more memorable learning experiences than listening to hours of lectures or reading pages of materials.

Virtual training can be updated and quickly pushed out across the workforce to ensure all employees have completed the latest training. Quizzes can offer quick feedback about where additional training may be needed and a proactive way to follow- up with individual employees.

2 of 3 16/12/2020, 3:42 pm
Guidelines for Developing a Welding and Cutting Safety Program | EHS... https://www.ehstoday.com/safety/article/21910678/guidelines-for-develo...

When state and local government officials ordered shutdowns, millions of people suddenly went from working in an office to working from home. That has posed a number of concerns for companies, including ensuring employees had the equipment they needed and that their security networks weren’t vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Employees have proven they can do the job even from less-than-ideal situations, say a dining room table, perhaps seated next to their children doing remote learning.

As the months have dragged on, there are growing concerns about how to help employees who may be feeling less connected to their co-workers, overwhelmed by this new normal and at risk of burning out. The same technology that can lead to feelings of isolation can also be used to create camaraderie.

“It takes more than a laptop and conference calls,” observes Donna McEntee, director of EHS products at Skillsoft, a provider of cloud-based corporate learning content. “Engagement, productivity and technology training are legitimate concerns, especially for companies without established work-from-home policies. Leaders have to learn to maintain operations and productivity with less direct influence. Leading virtually is a learned skill. Similarly, virtual workforces require
employees to rethink collaboration—technology does not equal teamwork.”

Businesses, especially the manufacturing sector, have been a recent target for hackers seeking to cause chaos or make money by disrupting business operations.

A March 2020 report, Securing Critical Operational Technology in Manufacturing by the Manufacturers Alliance and cybersecurity firm Fortinet, found that a majority of companies faced at least one specific security incident that resulted in unauthorized access to data in the past 12 months, a sizable jump from just a few years ago.

Data protection and managed services provider Digital Guardian published a report by aggregating anonymized telemetry from Jan. 1 to April 15, 2020, from 194 global companies. They found a 123% increase in employees copying company data to USB drives, 74% of which was classified. They also found a 62% increase in malicious activity, which led to a 54% increase in incident response investigations.

“Cybercriminals are not only aware of, but are actively targeting, workers who are remotely accessing confidential and sensitive corporate information,” say attorneys John P. Rondini and Todd W. Dishman of the law firm of Brooks Kushman. “Just as hand washing is critical to stop the spread of COVID, good cybersecurity ‘hygiene’ is required to prevent cyberattacks in this time of crisis.”

Ransomware and spyware also pose serious risks, highlighting the need for companies to train employees on how to identify malicious emails and ensure their devices are up to date and all security patches are installed.

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is poised to revolutionize manufacturing and the supply chain. The 3D printing market grew to more than $10.4 billion in 2019 and recent forecasts say this market will grow to $55 billion by 2029, according to a market report from SmarTech Analysis.

What’s more, 85% of manufacturers reported that industrial-scale 3D printing has the potential to increase revenue for their business, according to a survey by industrial 3D printing solution provider Essentium.

Companies like HP say that 3D printing can help the environment because it will enable the manufacturing industry to produce less waste, less inventory and less CO2 emissions. Nearly one-third of carbon emissions are related to the production and distribution of goods.

“3D printing is no longer a novelty, as manufacturers in the automotive, aviation, medical, consumer goods, entertainment and numerous other industries are integrating 3D printing into their production processes,” say Alexander Woo and Lauren A. Bachtel of the law firm of Hunton Andrews Kurth.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now turning its attention toward 3D printing to study possible harmful emissions during the printing process. Chemical Insights, an institute of Underwriters Laboratories, and Georgia Tech have found that many desktop 3D printers generate ultrafine particles (UFPs) and numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while in operation that may affect human health. UFPs can be inhaled and penetrate deep into the human pulmonary
system, triggering lung irritation, respiratory and chest discomfort and asthma. VOC exposure can result in headaches, eye and nose irritation and flu-like symptoms.

While there are some occupational standards and guidelines for protecting workers in industrial environments mainly addressing specific VOCs and total particles, they do not address UFPs or many of the VOCs found in 3D printing emissions

3 of 3 16/12/2020, 3:42 pm