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FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
GETTING THE MOST FROM EXTRACTION SYSTEMS
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reported more than 500 explosions in US grain handling facilities in the last 35 years, causing 180 deaths and 675 injuries. Accumulated combustible dust was the issue in many of these cases, so robust extraction and sieving design may be essential to reduce airborne particles, for cleaner and safer environments, and to reduce the risk of combustion. Here, Stephen Harding, managing director of Gough Engineering, explains how to apply extraction processes for optimal product quality, safety and efficiency.
I
ndustrial sieving involves the use of vibrating sieves to separate particles of different sizes through agitation. The process is relied-upon to separate materials and remove impurities in
various industries such as chemical plants, food production and plastic manufacturing. However, while impurity removal and product quality improvements are essential, these processes can generate dust and airborne particles that may pose health and safety risks. Dust plumes can be carcinogenic and potentially explosive, which is why regulations like the ATEX zone definitions ratings are in place to prevent fire hazards. Extraction systems, too, play a crucial role in mitigating these risks by effectively capturing and removing dust and airborne particles, safeguarding worker health, and reducing cleaning. Incorporating extraction offers numerous benefits, including dust reduction, improved cleanliness, increased productivity and enhanced safety. Vibratory sieves are easily adapted with integrated extraction with the Gough Engineering designs capture and remove unwanted particles. Alternatively, an extractor hood in a food
processing plant can capture airborne contaminants and direct them through a fan and ductwork system for removal and purification. But hoods alone may lack the necessary extraction for effective dust removal and may, over time, result in higher cleaning costs.
38 JULY/AUGUST 2023 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
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