Protecting the Rights of Welders
Over 500,000 strong, welders labor at construction sites, shipyards, bridges, mines, factories, and auto plants. They are the backbone of our country. Sadly, however, many will become ill from harmful welding fumes, chemicals, and metals.
We created this website to help welders and their families find out more about these dangers. It describes the contents of welding fumes and discusses diseases that are common among welders. We also provide a list of medical centers and legal information. Below is a brief overview of the problems facing welders.
Welding Fumes Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
Welding rods, especially steel ones, can give off fumes that contain the metal manganese. Breathing in this metal damages your nervous system. Welders suffer from a higherâ-than-average rate of Parkinson’s disease, a disorder that affects walking and other movements. Parkinson’s disease is a very serious illness, above and beyond the normal aging process. Welders often develop the condition at an earlier age than other Parkinson’s disease victims.
Many welders also suffer from a movement disorder labeled manganism or manganese poisoning. It presents many symptoms that are similar to Parkinson’s disease. Because of the overlap between the two conditions, some researchers call manganism a form of Parkinsonism or Parkinsonian Syndrome.
Know When to See Your Doctor About Manganese Exposure from Welding Fumes
When should you be concerned about exposure to manganese? It is time to see your doctor if you have any of the symptoms listed below, and you have worked around welding fumes:
- tremors or shaking
- balance problems
- slowed movement
- stiffness and difficulty moving
- problems in moving your facial muscles
Some patients also experience memory loss and slurred speech. The list of symptoms may overlap with other diseases, so it is important to give your doctor a good description of your physical problems and your work, especially your contact with welding fumes.
Welding Fumes and Your Legal Rights
Despite the harm that can be caused by welding fumes, welding rod manufacturers did not issue warnings about manganese in their products for many years. Finally, these companies included cautions on the bottom of cartons or packages holding numerous welding rods. This made it unlikely that you would see or understand the risk. Welding rod distributors and suppliers may also have hidden the dangers of working with welding rods.
If you have been injured by welding fumes, you may be able to receive compensation from these companies. Please contact us at Brayton Purcell to learn about your legal rights. We will not charge you a fee to review your claim. We have been handling cases involving toxic substances for over 40 years and are proud of our record of helping workers.