FEATURE DUST & FUME EXTRACTION
FOG SYSTEM SUPPRESSES breathable dust in factories
Airborne dust creates a safety hazard in any industry. Fiona Miles of Renby explains how the simple addition of a fogging system can effectively solve the problem
A
irborne dust creates a safety hazard in any industry. Whether the business
is processing or packing vegetables, pellets or powders of any kind; if the fugitive dust is respirable (breathable) the consequences of a dusty workplace can be very serious. The HSE has strict workplace exposure limits for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) of 0.1mg/m3 and will take action against companies that do not take dust exposure seriously.
PROBLEM WITH AIRBORNE DUST Airborne respirable dust of any kind but especially RCS can cause severe respiratory conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
CASE STUDY
Problem: a vegetable packing and grading facility had problems with airborne dust. As potatoes are conveyed around the facility they drop from one part of the process to another, loosening the soil on the tubers which contains fine particles of crystalline silica. As the soil is dry the movement of the vegetables causes this dust to become airborne. The HSE regularly inspects facilities such as these to ensure workers are being adequately protected from airborne dust. This customer needed a solution which would effectively solve the dust problem, thereby protecting staff and bring them well within the tight HSE limits for RCS.
Solution: a MicronFog fogging system was installed to suppress dust in key areas in the process where dust was in the air or becoming airborne. Nozzles were fitted in the roof space to suppress dust generally in the area. In addition, several fogging nozzles
were positioned underneath the sorting line to suppress dust falling from the conveyor return belts. Low flow nozzles were fitted above
the loading and transfer points on the sorting line. The engineering manager at this vegetable packing business was delighted with the results of the project, commenting: “Our new dust suppression system does exactly what it says on the tin”.
18 JULY/AUGUST 2016 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT
and silicosis and lung cancer. COPD interferes with airflow in and out of the lungs, causing breathlessness and a severe cough. As the disease develops the patient may be unable to walk more than a few yards. In silicosis fine particles create small, nodules of scar tissue in the lungs, causing breathing difficulties and a chronic cough. Silicosis increases risk of lung cancer and tuberculosis. Silicosis patients are prone to kidney disease and arthritis. People exposed to silica have increased risk of those diseases even if they do not develop silicosis. It is clear why the HSE takes RCS so seriously. Businesses which do not adequately protect staff from exposure to respirable dust risk fines and potentially expensive litigation and in severe cases a prison sentence.
HOW DOES A FOGGING SYSTEM SUPPRESS DUST? Respirable airborne dust is attracted to the microscopic water droplets and simply drops out of the air. MicronFog produces a high concentration of 10-20 micron fog droplets. This offers optimum performance for attracting PM10 and smaller particles, thereby suppressing the airborne dust. Some products are moisture-sensitive and must not become wet. In a carefully designed fog system the droplets are small enough that flash evaporation prevents wetting the processing area. Fog cools, it can
humidify, deliver chemicals and disinfectants and provide special effects. The most common use of our fogging systems is the suppression of airborne dust. Used outdoors and indoors, on loading areas, conveying areas or in the building generally.
Fog is a powerful tool that enables industry to comply with workplace dust
limits...it offers significant cost savings when compared to other technologies"
A MicronFog system was installed in a vegetable packing and grading facility to suppress dust in key areas in the process where dust was in the air or becoming airborne
It is used in biofuel handling, recycling and waste processing, powder handling, vegetable packing and grading, compost, grain, quarries and minerals processing and energy from waste. The benefits of dust suppression including reduced exposure to litigation, lower levels of illness and less machine downtime are obvious but a cooler, more pleasant workplace; faster clean-up times can improve morale and productivity. Fog is a powerful tool that enables
industry to comply with workplace dust limits. Economical to run, it offers significant cost savings when compared to other technologies.
Renby T: 01829 740913
www.micronfog.com
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