Small booths, containers, and temporary enclosures amplify weld fume risk. Concentrations can climb quickly, leaving little margin for error. Control must prioritise source capture, defined airflow, and disciplined housekeeping that fits the tight footprint.

Make the space work for you

• Plan an airflow path: bring make-up air low at the rear, draw towards extraction at the front. Avoid cross-draughts across the operator’s face.
• Use compact source capture: flexible-arm or torch extraction positioned close to the arc. Many sites rely on Compact WFE units where floor space is tight.
• Set negative pressure to adjacent areas to prevent fume escape; exhaust outside where possible.
• Specify filtration appropriate to the hazard; for fine or carcinogenic particles, use HEPA to H14.

Operate within limits

• Check airflow under load, not free-air figures. Monitor for decay as filters load and replace prefilters before performance drops.
• Stagger hot work and grinding to prevent peak overlap in confined volumes.
• Keep leads, hoses, and ducting routed high or along edges to maintain clear egress.

Housekeeping that fits small spaces

• Vacuum only, high to low. Do not sweep or use compressed air.
• Use narrow nozzles and long-reach tools to clean corners and behind fixtures.
• Bag waste in the booth, then remove. Finish with a brief purge using the air scrubber before re-entry.

COSHH requires exposure control for welding fume; HSE expects effective LEV and good maintenance. In confined areas, the same rules apply but tolerances are smaller. Define the airflow, keep capture tight to the source, and clean so residues cannot re-enter the air.