Welding Fume Awareness Toolbox Talk for Vehicle Services and the Motor Trade

This welding fume safety toolbox talk template from Health & Safety Zone is designed for vehicle technicians, bodyshop staff and workshop managers who need practical guidance on controlling welding fumes in automotive environments.

It explains the key hazards of metal‑oxide fumes, outlines the legal duties under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and references the British Standards BS EN ISO 21904‑1:2020 and BS EN ISO 21904‑4:2020 that set performance criteria for extraction equipment.

• Use it for: daily pre‑weld briefings, new‑staff induction sessions, and refresher training on fume control.
• Use it for: risk assessments of welding bays, audit of extraction system performance, and preparation for HSE inspections.
• Use it for: developing site‑specific safe work procedures and emergency rescue plans for confined‑space welding.

Each section includes a concise purpose, a clear what‑and‑why explanation, more than ten actionable do items and more than ten don’t items, plus an important summary of critical controls.

The talk is fully editable, shareable and can be customised with your company name, workshop layout and specific equipment details.

For further guidance see the HSE page on welding fumes https://www.hse.gov.uk/welding/fumes.htm. This template is compliant with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and the BS EN ISO 21904‑1 & 21904‑4 standards.