Are 3D Printer Fumes Harmful to Your Employees’ Health?

As 3D printing technology becomes more popular, businesses are starting to use them more and more. However, with this increased usage comes a new set of concerns – namely, the health and safety of employees who operate 3D printers.

But are 3D printer fumes truly bad for your health? In this blog post, we will explore the potential dangers of 3D printer fumes and what you can do to protect your employees.

Do 3D Printers Give Off Fumes?

As with any printing process, the answer to this question is yes. It all depends on what materials you use how harmful these fumes are, though. You should always make sure that your employees aren’t breathing in these fumes because the potential for harm is there, and not taking measures against this is taking on needless liability risks.

Are 3D Printer Fumes Harmful?

The dangers of fumes from a printer are largely dependent on what type of material you use in your printer. Some materials may not give off any harmful fumes at all, while others can be quite dangerous if inhaled.

Fumes from a plastic-based printer aren’t usually dangerous unless you use ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), which emits styrene gas when heated at high temperatures. Styrene is considered carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

When it comes to printers that use resin as their material, there could be more serious health risks involved than just fumes alone. Resin can give off toxic vapors and should not be inhaled directly because they contain chemicals like acrolein and acetone – both known carcinogens. It’s best if employees don’t work with resin printers at all unless there are safety measures in place to protect them from exposure.

What Can You Do to Reduce the Risks?

There are several things you can do to reduce the risks of fumes from your printer, including but not limited to:

• Use a different type of material (such as PLA) that doesn’t give off any harmful fumes when heated up or printed on. This will ensure employees aren’t inhaling anything dangerous during their workday, and it also reduces liability for employers since they won’t have workers getting sick due to printer-related causes.
• Install ventilation systems around areas where printing occurs so fumes don’t build up over time and eventually become a problem for people who work in those spaces.
• Make sure employees wear proper safety gear when working with printers that use resin as their material (such as gloves and masks). This will protect them from exposure to toxic fumes being released during printing processes.

For a fume extraction system that works with 3D printer fumes, speak to IP Systems USA.

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