Protecting welders today and in the future
Protecting welders today and in the future
Occupational health and safety remains a key priority for the European welding community.
On 14 October 2026, EWA’s Technical Committee Consumables met at Drahthaus Düsseldorf, bringing together 19 members and guests to discuss key developments in occupational health and safety across the welding sector.
The meeting opened with a regulatory and standardization discussion presented by Vincent van der Mee, covering recent developments from CEN TC121WG3, ISO TC44SC3 and ISO TC44SC9WG8, the ongoing restriction process on chromates (CrVI), and discussions surrounding the revision of REACH and the classification of metals and alloys in welding applications. Participants also reviewed the status of including welding fumes in Annex I of Directive 2004/37/EC (CMRD) and recent developments concerning titanium dioxide (TiO?), which is no longer classified as a carcinogen following a ruling by the European Court of Justice.
Another key topic was the development of a dedicated training module on welding fumes for EWF and IIW qualifications. The initiative aims to strengthen awareness of occupational safety, the risks associated with welding fumes, and effective protective measures for welding personnel across Europe and beyond. The training content builds on the work already carried out through EWA’s activities and publications on welding fumes.
The ongoing revision of the ISO 21904 series was presented by Manfred Könning. The standards form the basis for the testing and certification of welding fume extraction systems, making their revision an important step for the industry. This major standardization project has recently been extended until October 2028, with EWA experts actively contributing to the work.
Through active participation in standardization, education and regulatory discussions, EWA continues to support a safer and healthier working environment for welding professionals