Welding with non-consumable thoriated tungsten electrodes

This document was prepared by the International Institute of Welding, Commission VIII Health and Safety under the chairmanship of the Author. It constitutes the considered judgement of this expert group on the hazards and risks added to arc welding by the use of thoriated tungsten electrodes and the specific protective measures which are required to control the risks and thus protect the health and safety of welders and those working with them directly or indirectly as in cleaning and maintenance. The experts have drawn on views expressed in previous Commission VIII documents on this topic and information on thorium and its compounds published in papers in the scientific literature. The experts recommend that use of thoriated electrodes ceases as soon as is practicable and that, until that change is completed, special care is taken to inform workers of the hazards and to implement all the other protective measures which are detailed in the report.