Any industrial work application that includes grinding and deburring is going to create dust that requires immediate filtration. Whether it is an angle grinder, die grinder or an automated grinding machine, dust and particles will pollute your workplace unless they are captured and filtered at the source.
The key is to remove dust and particulate before it reaches the breathing zone of nearby workers. Depending on the nature of the work application, grinding and deburring can create airborne metal, composite, rubber or fiberglass dust that is particularly dangerous to inhale.
The dust produced by workplace grinding applications produces a range of health effects, mostly centered in the lungs. A condition known as pneumoconiosis or “dusty lung” affects many workers that don’t have access to proper filtration and ventilation. The result is scar tissue build up in the lining of the lungs that contributes to serious, chronic lung problems.
The lungs aren’t the only organs at risk, as some particles have the potential to dissolve in the bloodstream and travel through the body to other organs. When this happens, effects may be seen in the liver, kidneys or even the brain.
Creating a work environment that gives workers the ability to capture and filter grinding and deburring dust at the source, is the key to safe prevention. The degree of risk to workers is determined by factors such as the length of exposure, the type of material being worked with, the type of protection and the effectiveness of that protection.
Since grinding dust has the capacity to spread throughout a work environment quickly, the only foolproof way to keep it under control is to eliminate the dust at the workstation, so it never has a chance to cause damage to workers, machinery and costly electronic equipment. If your grinding application produces explosive combustible dust, then the stakes are even higher.
At Diversitech, we offer filtering and ventilation equipment such as downdraft tables and dust collectors that will capture the dust as you produce it, then filter and remove it from harm’s way. All of our dust filtration and ventilation products meet required regulatory guidelines, and our expert team is always ready to provide information and help guide you in the right direction.
Contact us today for more about how we can help.