Feature Health & safety Removing hidden dangers
Dust and fume extraction systems, commonly known as local exhaust ventilation (LEV), remains an area of continued focus for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Mark Hodgens of Nederman explains how a free fume test can help identify potentially harmful contaminants and offers advice on how best to deal with these health hazards
T
hey remind us “every year, thou- sands of workers in Britain develop occupational diseases from breathing in certain dusts, fumes or other airborne contaminants at work.” Unlike more obvious work- place risks, dust or fumes can be easily forgotten, ignored or underestimated. Debilitating chronic lung disease is too often the eventual result. Whilst such diseases are usually the result of cumulative prolonged exposure, onset can be sudden. Someone exposed to hazardous contamination may show no adverse effects for an extended period only to quickly develop chronic symptoms. Preventing future exposure then often offers no cure, it’s simply too late.
LEV systems are designed to capture airborne contamination at source, before it enters the operators breathing zone or workplace. A simple system would include a capture device, duct-
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ing, fan unit and an exhaust duct. Filtration is usually incorporated to remove contamination, ensuring dis- charge to atmosphere is safe. Many industrial processes create dust and fumes. Whilst occupational asthma can result from any prolonged exposure, particular culprits include organic dust from the food industry, solvent mist from paint spraying or mixing, carbon monoxide from furnaces and metal fume from welding or soldering. Though it’s the employer that has the legal duty of care under COSHH it’s of course the employees that run the risks - so aware- ness is critical. Given the potential ‘invisibility’ of the problem, it’s an ongo- ing responsibility for government, sup- pliers, and employers to create the awareness and responsibilities.
Controlling the risks
The primary legislation for LEV is COSHH (control of substances
JULY/AUGUST 2011 Factory Equipment
hazardous to health regulations) which applies to workplaces using any substances considered as dangerous. COSHH requires processes to be risk assessed, decide upon suitable precau- tions, prevention (or control) exposure and ensure systems are used, main- tained and tested. Employers must fur- ther ensure adequate documentation, training and procedures are in place to record the maintenance of LEV, ensure efficiency, good repair and clean con- dition. LEV systems must be examined and certified at least once every 14 months (more frequent on some sys- tems), with records kept for five years. Over and above the general require- ment, ‘Workplace Exposure Limits’ (WELs) are specified for particular substances which are known to be hazardous to health. The tendency to consider these limits as the line between ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ is unhelp- ful and potentially dangerous. Exposure is a continuum of risk upon which acceptable levels (the WELs) are set – but zero is the only absolutely safe level. WEL’s measure concentrations over a given time period and are split into long term exposure limits and TWA (eight hour time weighted average) and a short term exposure limit which usually specifies a higher value but is based on just 15 minutes exposure. “It can be complex,” says Mark Hodgens, Nederman’s managing direc- tor. “Nederman offers a free fume test which can measure many types of air- borne contamination including weld fume, exhaust, oil mist and dust”. To be relied upon safely, a test needs to measure different particle sizes
Nederman offers a free fume test which can measure many types of airborne contamination including weld fume, exhaust, oil mist and dust
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