Investigating Factors Affecting the Occupational Health of Welding Operators in Small Workshops: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: The welding process is indispensable in the development of job trends, especially in small industries. In the meantime, welders are faced with various harmful factors such as chemical, physical, and ergonomic factors, which increases the possibility of them contracting various acute and chronic occupational diseases. The principal aim of the current review was to contribute a better understanding of chemical, physical, and ergonomic hazards threatening the occupational health of the workers. Methods: In the current narrative review, Web of Science ،PubMed ،and Scopus as international databases, and SID, and Magiran as national databases in era of 2010 to 2023 were searched. Keywords such as “welding, workplace hazard, harmful agents, physical hazard, heat stress, noise, chemical hazard, and ergonomic hazard” were used to form the search strategy. Findings: In total, 53 articles were collected, among which 31 articles were in the field of chemical harmful factors, 9 were in the field of occupational diseases, 8 were in the field of physical harmful factors, and 5 were in the field of ergonomic harmful factors. Conclusion: Welding is a process in which people may suffer chronic or even acute illnesses or health disorders due to the use of tools and exposure to different harmful factors. In the meantime, lack of access to health equipment, personal protective equipment, and ergonomic facilities, as well as inappropriate training can put people at different levels of risk of exposure to harmful factors. © 2025, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.