Feature Health & safety
(between one and 10 microns for example), sample different timings and locations and then make the nec- essary calculations against the speci- fied limits. Particular care must be taken to use correct limit values. Here, attention to trace elements is key as Nederman, a market leader in weld fume extraction, highlights. The long term WEL for particulate welding fume is 5mg per m3 but the presence of Chromium VI (used in stainless steel), with a limit 99 per cent lower at 0.05mg per m3, or even copper (0.2mg per m3) can dramatically reduce this. So an overall level may end up any- where between 1mg per m3 and 5mg per m3, once the material, the consum- able and the welding method are con- sidered. Again, few companies realise the last two factors affect the release of the governing components too.
Raising Awareness
The Health and Safety Executive is responding to the challenges. Recent Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs) were held for the bakery industry. This industry employs 95,000 with 27,000 exposed to flour dust (which has WELs of 10mg per m3 and 30mg per m3) and the potentially sensitising enzymes it contains. Besides conjunctivitis and rhinitis, the
rate of new occupational asthma cases is highest amongst bakers. “Simple changes like avoiding cleaning with brushes or compressed air will often make a difference,” says Hodgens. The explosion risk means these systems should be sourced from suppliers with ATEX compliant products.
HSE is also running awareness courses at venues around the UK during the second half of the year. The single day courses, approved by the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), are titled ‘Practical Management of LEV controls’ with content covering the importance of LEV, the main elements of the system, legislation, effects of exposure to hazardous substances and simple test methods. Details are avail- able at
www.hse.gov.uk/lev/events.htm. Finally, Health and Safety Guidance published in 2008 (HSG258) is continu- ing to build awareness. Nederman was invited onto the industry group that devised the tiered message structure to create information for installation contractors, employers and employee operators respectively. Paragraph 229 recommends airflow indicators are fitted at all extraction points. These need not be complex to interpret or expensive to retrofit and offer an invaluable early warning if a system is not functioning within its design parameters.
Unlike more obvious workplace risks, dust or fumes can be easily forgotten, ignored or
underestimated
Nederman T: 08452 743434
www.nederman.co.uk
Enter 317
Advice to businesses 1. Understand where your processes create dust or fume? 2. Speak to suppliers which under- stand the technicalities and the legal requirements. 3. Look at the service as well as the equipment. Can the supplier offer design, installation, commissioning, operator training, COSHH testing and after sales support? Unfortunately, poorly designed sys- tems are common. If they’re cumber- some to use, ineffective, poorly maintained then they can’t effectively control exposure.
FREE site survey -call to arrange today! Big just got bigger...
Nederman Ltd now includes Dantherm Filtration. Nederman’s leadership in air cleaning systems of up to 15,000 cubic metres has been enhanced by Dantherm Filtration’s specialisation in high volume systems, to 500,000 cubic metres and beyond.
The global market leader in industrial air filtration.
Nederman Ltd 91 Seedlee Road, Walton Summit Centre Preston, Lancashire PR5 8AE
Tel. 08452 74 34 34
info@nederman.co.uk Enter 7 Factory Equipment JULY/AUGUST 2011 21
www.nederman.co.uk Why choose Nederman?
• Single point of contact for your project
• More products and solutions, for more industry sectors
• Complete in house expertise
• Outstanding product performance and reliability
• Full projects capability, delivering turn-key solutions
• Comprehensive aftersales support
For further information, or to arrange a FREE site survey, please contact Nederman on 08452 74 34 34 now including:
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48