Rank: Forum user 
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Hi All,
I have been asked a couple of questions regarding working with coal dust. - Do FFP3 mask protect enough against Coal dust particles (face fit tested)
- Whats the best way to weld in an area where dust may still be present, Its Welding on Coal Wagons.
Worked with small particle dust prior such as Flour but never coal dust.
thanks in advance.
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Rank: Forum user 
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Hi, FFP3 masks work the same for all dusts - they are not substance specific like vapour filters. From a COSHH point of view, your controls to protect the operator from welding fume should also address the health risks from the coal dust. The other significant risk is the potential for a dust cloud explosion. The required controls for this aspect of the risk are dealt with in DSEAR. If you have experience of working with Flour - then the controls required will be identical (for the most part) to the controls you would use for welding in areas where flour may be present. Hope it helps, Tony.
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 2 users thanked antbruce001 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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CM - to get a decent weld it is generally a requirement that you need clean components. So, why not wash the wagons inside and out and get rid of both the dust inhalation and explosion risks? [Still have welding fumes to deal with]
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1 user thanked peter gotch for this useful post.
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Rank: Forum user
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Originally Posted by: peter gotch  CM - to get a decent weld it is generally a requirement that you need clean components. So, why not wash the wagons inside and out and get rid of both the dust inhalation and explosion risks? [Still have welding fumes to deal with]
Originally Posted by: antbruce001 Hi, FFP3 masks work the same for all dusts - they are not substance specific like vapour filters. From a COSHH point of view, your controls to protect the operator from welding fume should also address the health risks from the coal dust. The other significant risk is the potential for a dust cloud explosion. The required controls for this aspect of the risk are dealt with in DSEAR. If you have experience of working with Flour - then the controls required will be identical (for the most part) to the controls you would use for welding in areas where flour may be present. Hope it helps, Tony.
Cheers Both, should have been a bit clearer, the wagons are open topped not enclosed and work will be in a well ventilated area so build up of both welding fumes and coal dust shouldnt be such a problem, we can alos use mobile LEV's. We have looked at jet washing them prior to any work taking place to remove the thick of it but this brings another issue of getting rid of the waste waters / larger pieces.
thanks again.
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Rank: Super forum user
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This likely does not actually affect the work, then again it may - Do you know what type of coal you're dealing with? Anthracitic coal is the ancient, very hard coal that was found for example in Wales - very hard and very hard to light, sometimes referred to as "steam coal" - good for steam engines etc. Then there's bituminous coals, the slightly less ancient, less hard stuff that is easier to light and is capable of auto ignition if left uncompacted due to it's volatility - some S. American coal is realy volatile in this respect and has been known to ignite either on ships , stock yards or whilst being transported by rail - the primary coal type used in UK power generation. Then there's the very new "brown" coal, or lignite which is what the german open cast mines are about. "Coal" aint just "coal" Worth a thought
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1 user thanked ExDeeps for this useful post.
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Rank: Forum user
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Originally Posted by: ExDeeps This likely does not actually affect the work, then again it may - Do you know what type of coal you're dealing with? Anthracitic coal is the ancient, very hard coal that was found for example in Wales - very hard and very hard to light, sometimes referred to as "steam coal" - good for steam engines etc. Then there's bituminous coals, the slightly less ancient, less hard stuff that is easier to light and is capable of auto ignition if left uncompacted due to it's volatility - some S. American coal is realy volatile in this respect and has been known to ignite either on ships , stock yards or whilst being transported by rail - the primary coal type used in UK power generation. Then there's the very new "brown" coal, or lignite which is what the german open cast mines are about. "Coal" aint just "coal" Worth a thought
thanks will ask the question!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Isn’t the latest HSE guidance that when welding outside LEV is ineffective and RPE (air fed hoods) are used. Yes, weld area needs to be clean of rust / other contaminants at the weld area. Not good to weld wet metal (yes I know you can weld underwater). Chris
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