Maintenance procedures gathering dust?
June 1st 2008 Dust extraction equipment is a key part of surface preparation and finishing machinery, but Peter Longstaff, general sales manager at Wheelabrator Group, believes too many engineers are still allowing maintenance of these vital components to fall by the wayside, presenting substantial risks to worker health The breakdown of any material into a dust has the potential to be harmful to worker health, but in our industry this danger is ever present as this process forms a natural part of our day-to-day activities.
Dust created as a bi-product of using abrasive media to blast surfaces is classified as either hazardous or a nuisance, both of which can lead to significant risks for staff.
Failure to protect workers can lead to skin conditions, brain and liver damage, nausea, sore eyes, asthma and bronchial problems, among others. The Health and Safety Executive estimate between 1,500 and 3,000 people in Great Britain each year develop asthma caused by exposure at work.
Toxic contamination
While common abrasives such as fused alumina, glass beads and steel shots are non hazardous themselves, the dust created can be contaminated by toxic substances, such as old lead paint, which the blasting process is designed to remove.
In the UK, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations require companies to undertake risk assessments and install preventative controls to reduce or eliminate operator exposure to dust.
As any shot blasting company will agree, this is difficult to monitor and police, but companies caught violating this legislation risk large fines as well as endangering the lives of their staff, which in turn could lead to expensive compensation claims.
Risk of explosion
In addition to health problems arising from inhaling dust, there is also a risk of explosion or fire, when fine dust particles combine with an oxygen rich atmosphere, as in blast machines. A spark from the blast process or machine electrics could ignite the atmosphere if fine dust is present.
Companies with dust collectors fitted to machines should ensure they are properly maintained as cloth bags and paper filters can deteriorate over time. Blockages can also cause the unit to malfunction and release particles into the air.
As the dust extractor fills, operators should monitor the pressure drop so filter or cartridge problems, which could result in a release of potentially hazardous airborne particles, are spotted early. This is important, even if an automatic bag shaker is fitted. A way to avoid these problems is to take out a maintenance contract with the equipment manufacturer, which many companies now do.
Care should also be taken when the extractor systems are emptied and cleaned to avoid exposing staff to the fine dust inside.
Employers operating local exhaust ventilation systems are required by law to ensure they are thoroughly examined and tested at least every 14 months. They must keep the equipment in good working order, in an efficient state and in a clean condition.
It's essential employers ensure all potentially hazardous substances are captured, removed and safely disposed of, if they are to avoid risking their employees health. More articles from Wheelabrator Group Ltd: | 
