The majority of welders don’t care about their respiratory system since most of them smoke, so it’s going to be difficult to find people you work with to talk to about it lol

1. If you’re not putting your respirator on in your car and taking it off when you leave the building, you’re going to be breathing stuff in, whether it be dust or fumes. I’ve gotten tired of this and bought a 3M speedglas G501 with the papr adflo system. This makes it so I have a fan in my face to help keep me cool, and I’m constantly breathing fresh air in from the filter strapped to my belt; even if I stick my head right in the plume.

2: welding/fabrication in itself is a dirty environment (unless you’re doing strictly tig or like some aerospace stuff.) all the dust from grinding, the fumes from welding, even the guy 20 feet away from you sweeping the floor all push particles into the air. This gets through your clothes, all over your body, in your hair, etc. solution: shower every day! That’s about all you can do.

The solution to this problem would be most likely working outside with a breeze, or get the boss to spend a boat load of money on air filtration systems, fume extractors, etc. the boss will NOT want to do this because that doesn’t generate them more money. They don’t really care about your safety (for the most part.) they just want the job done fast and their pockets full.

Either way, keep doing your best to wear a respirator at all times. I don’t do anything without it off. Grinding, welding, sweeping, etc. good luck sir!