Workplace safety is one of the most important challenges employers and entrepreneurs must face for the sake of a compliant working environment. It’s not always easy to spot danger. That’s why important regulatory agencies like OSHA help industries and businesses identify potential risks and provide guidelines and regulations accordingly.
WHAT IS “FINE DUST”?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, fine dust is a dust particle whose diameter is usually around 2.5 micrometers or even smaller. That’s the reason why these particles are inhalable: the smaller the diameter, the easier for the particle to infiltrate inside the human body, and the higher the potential damage to health.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY OPERATION IS WORKING WITH FINE DUST?
Whether your dust is classified as “fine” dust (and therefore needs compliant operation) will depend largely on the size of the dust as previously mentioned (2.5 micrometers or smaller). Other factors that may affect your compliance include the type of industry and the material the dust is composed of.
FINE DUST EFFECTS ON WORKERS & ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS
Since fine dust is inhalable and sometimes even imperceptible, it has several effects on the human body. Some of them are less severe (e.g., conjunctivitis; skin rashes; allergic and infectious symptoms); and some of them are severe or even fatal (e.g., respiratory problems and diseases; infection in the human brain; cardiovascular disease; cancer).
However, fine dust is not a threat only to the human body. In fact:
- it has environmental effects, affecting ecosystems; changing the natural balance of water; eliminating the nutrients from the soil; impacting on forests and farm crops
- causes materials damage due to rubbing and corrosion
IS THE DUST I AM DEALING WITH TO BE CLASSIFIED AS FINE DUST?
There are many kinds of fine dusts that can negatively impact the environment, including:
- toner dust – very fine dust made of coal, resin, and iron oxide. Printers release up to 23/1000-micron particles in the air
- cement
- fine dusts in construction – concrete, marble, stone and wood dust caused by floor grinders, scarifiers and shot blasters.
REDUCING HAZARDOUS DUSK RISK WITH OSHA GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS
Some fine dusts are so dangerous that OSHA has set rules and regulations on how to handle and dispose of this material:
- Silica dust: This is a common mineral that can be easily found in construction materials like sand or stone. It is released when cutting or drilling it during construction processes. OSHA has set guidelines for housekeeping equipment use like industrial vacuums (e.g., flow rate on a VDC system of 80 CFM; 1 ½ – to 2-inch diameter hose and so on). OSHA has also set silica dust fines in case of violation of these rules.
- Asbestos: it’s a group of minerals that are resistant to heat and corrosion. Asbestos is used in many construction products and is well recognized as a health hazard. That’s why both OSHA and EPA regulate its use (e.g., no workers’ direct exposure to this material; medical monitoring of workers and so on).
KEEP YOUR PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT CLEAN
Keeping a clean production environment and so preventing the above list of dusts spread in the production plant is fundamental for several reasons:
- avoid production downtimes and so cutting costs due to inactivity
- protect workers from inhaling this dangerous dust
- guarantee production efficiency and standards
- prevent product contamination
- avoid fines and legal consequences
CHOOSE DELFIN FOR A COMPLETELY SAFE SOLUTION!
Delfin’s mission is to keep you safe, one dust particle at a time. And that’s what we do.
To prevent any contact between you and fine dust and to guarantee you the highest safety and quality levels, Delfin has designed the best, OSHA-compliant equipment.
We offer a complete line of compact and reliable industrial vacuums and dust collectors for fine dust. Some of these models are equipped with user-friendly height adjustable systems, which can alter the height of the vacuum from 61 to 51 inches, minimizing the required space for storage and transport on any van or truck.
The right filters for fine dust:
- M Filter: for medium risk powders, filtration up to 1 micron. M filtration is the minimum legal requirement for work on a construction site.
- H14 filter: for high-risk powders, filtration up to 0.18 micron and 99.995% efficiency.
ENDLESS BAGS: INDUSTRIAL VACUUM BAGGING SYSTEM WITH A LOT TO OFFER
A safe and easy collection system for fine dust: the Endless Bag. The Endless Bag is a quick and safe bagging system (20 mt/65ft long continuous bag) that can be easily adjusted in weight and length, working on a “fasten and cut” principle enabling the user to fill up to 50 bags before replacement.
The Endless Bag system prevents contact between the operator and the fine dust, even during the replacement of the bag. We have a video on Endless Bag replacement. The process is simple and convenient.
HOW TO USE AN ENDLESS BAG
Using the Endless Bag is very easy:
- attach a new Endless Bag to the holder
- slide the outer edge of the Endless Bag and pull it downwards
- close the bottom of the bag with a cable tie
- use your vacuum. Once you will switch off the motor, the dust will be dropped inside the bag
- fasten a cable tie a few inches above the collected dust
- fasten a second cable tie a few inches above the first cable tie
- cut between the cable ties
- remove the bag
Your Endless Bag is ready to be used again!
Delfin offers three types of Endless Bag, depending on the users’ needs:
- standard
- antistatic (required to handle flammable / explosive dust)
- and heavy duty (thicker and stronger).
This collection system can be installed on a complete range of models to guarantee the highest levels of safety.
ENDLESS BAGS, HEPA FILTERS, DUST EXTRACTORS, & MUCH MORE
Delfin offers other ways to provide safety to your operation, including optional HEPA filters and height adjustment options for your vacuum. The DM3LP model, for example, can be reduced to 4.2 feet (from 5 feet to 4.2 feet) by means of a spring system and may be easily transported in vans or work trucks.
Contact our experts and ask for more information about the Endless Bag range! sales@delfinindustrial.com
