Welding curtain safety regulations have tightened significantly in recent years as scientific evidence has increasingly shown the carcinogenic nature of the fumes. In 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified welding fumes as carcinogenic to humans. In February 2019, HSE subsequently strengthened its enforcement expectations around the control of welding fume in Great Britain.
Consequently, production managers overseeing welding activities need a clear, practical understanding of what is required, rather than a vague sense that ventilation is probably enough. This guide explains the current rules around welding fume and physical screening and steps that can be taken to mitigate it.
In February 2019, following the reclassification from the IARC, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed that all welding fume is now considered a human carcinogen, meaning general ventilation alone is no longer an adequate control measure, even for outdoor work.
This was a significant shift in HSE's position and enforcement approach. Where a workshop may once have relied on open doors, extractor fans, or simply working outside, the current position is clear: suitable controls must be in place for welding fume. Indoors, this will usually include local exhaust ventilation where possible, while suitable respiratory protective equipment is required for outdoor welding because LEV is generally not practical in open-air conditions.
Welding fumes are regulated under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). These regulations require employers to carry out a specific risk assessment for welding activities and put suitable engineering controls in place and use suitable respiratory protective equipment in place based on the results.
This is because welding fumes can contain a mixture of metal oxides such as chromium, manganese, iron, nickel and zinc oxides, gases such as carbon monoxide and phosgene, and other particulates like silicates and fluorides. Health risks from exposure can be significant.
A generic, site-wide risk assessment is not enough on its own. COSHH expects welding activities to be assessed specifically, taking into account the materials being welded, the process used and the environment the work takes place in.
Fume is not the only hazard welding produces. The process also generates intense ultraviolet radiation and bright arc flash, both of which can cause eye damage and skin burns to anyone nearby, not just the welder themselves. This makes physical screening of the work area an important part of a compliant setup, protecting other workers moving through or working near the welding zone from exposure they may not even be aware they are receiving.
Welding curtains made from flame-retardant material help segregate the welding area, reducing UV exposure and arc flash to surrounding workers while helping to create a clearly defined welding zone. They work alongside the controls used to manage welding fume, such as LEV and, where required, RPE, rather than replacing them.
HSE states that welding curtains and screens should conform to BS EN ISO 25980, or provide at least an equivalent level of protection.
In practice, a well-controlled welding area may require several measures working together - a documented, welding-specific COSHH risk assessment, effective local exhaust ventilation positioned close to the source of fume, respiratory protective equipment where extraction alone cannot fully control exposure and physical screening using flame retardant welding curtains to contain UV, arc flash and stray sparks. The appropriate combination will depend on factors such as the welding process, how frequently welding takes place, the amount of fume generated and the findings of the risk assessment.
Workshops where the setup hasn’t been reviewed since before 2019 may still be relying on general ventilation as the main control measure, which no longer meets HSE expectations under current guidance. Similarly, a workshop with good extraction but no physical screening may still be exposing nearby staff to UV and arc flash even where fume itself is well controlled. Reviewing your current welding areas against these points is a useful starting exercise before any formal inspection or audit takes place.
Beyond the physical controls themselves, keeping clear records of your welding-specific risk assessments, extraction maintenance and any screening installed helps demonstrate compliance if your workshop is ever inspected.
LEV used to control welding fume must also be thoroughly examined and tested at least every 14 months, with examination and test records retained for at least five years. Keeping your risk assessments and maintenance records up to date gives you a clearer record of how welding risks are being managed across the workshop.
Hutchinson's PVC Solutions supplies and installs welding curtains designed to meet UK safety standards, helping you create a properly segregated, compliant welding area that supports the rest of your control measures rather than working in isolation from them.
Request a quote to discuss your workshop's specific layout and needs, and find welding curtains that support your current welding safety requirements.