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Posted By Richard Whitehead
We are considering changing over to the use of lead free solder and need to carry out a risk assessment. Does anyone have any data or examples that they could share?
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Posted By Ali
Don't actually have a RA, but thought you might know that there are specific Regs concerning use of lead at work, so you need to conduct a specific lead risk assessment as opposed to a general RA. Main Hazard is obviously breathing in fumes and you would be looking at ventilation as a chief means of control - try to keep it simple.Look at L132 ACOP "Control of Lead at Work" for more details.
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Posted By Alexander Falconer
There has been legislative changes to the extent that leaded solder is now prohibited
You should have been using unleaded solder since July 2006.
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Posted By Jane Blunt
The main hazard when soldering with lead-containing solder is not the inhalation of lead fume. The Approved Code of Practice specifically places soldering in the category where there is unlikely to be a significant exposure to lead. You do get significant quantities when lead-burning, which is carried out at much higher temperatures.
The main source of exposure to lead is from handling it. Therefore normal hygiene measures will normally be enough.
The fume may contain all kinds of things, depending on the flux that has been used. A good place to start is the suppliers MSDS.
The ban on use of lead-containing solders is not by any means complete, and there are many exemptions, so many people may still be using it quite legally.
Jane
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
This thread seems to be going off at a tangent since the question was specifically about the use of lead-free solder!
Paul
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Posted By Alexander Falconer
Obviously I didnt make myself clear, leaded solder has been prohibited since 1st July 2006, as a result of the RoHS european directive.
In a nutshell, no one should be using leaded solder at all irrespective of industry!
On the issue of lead free solder, the best place to start would be with the MSDS data sheet. The suppliers themselves will generally assist.
Failing this, drop me a line, and I may be of some assistance.
We use copious amounts of lead free solder being in the domestic gas central heating istallation business.
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Posted By Simon Carrier
Richard
As you are changing over to lead free solder I assume that you are already using leaded solder. The risks associated with lead free and leaded solder are very similar, apart from possibly a higher temperature requirement, so you should be able to use the existing RA.
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Posted By andy dorr Richard, for hand soldering using lead free solder wire , the iron tip temperature will need to be higher and also the dwell time on the solder joint will be longer. The flux used may contain modified rosin and more fume may being liberated as a result of these factors. Link below may help http://documents.rs-comp...es/LF_hand_soldering.pdf
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