Occupational dust is a nuisance and a health risk for employees and nearby communities. For this reason, industrial site owners must use dust suppression techniques to protect workers, the environment, and nearby neighborhoods.
The technique you use will determine the effectiveness of dust prevention on your job site. Investing in modern dust control systems is one of the best ways to fight dust and ensure smooth industrial activities. Here’s why.
Conventional Dust Control Methods Are Not Fully Effective
Businesses have controlled dust in their premises using sprinklers and hose pipes for years. These techniques efficiently reduce surface dust but require a lot of water. This could increase the cost of dust management in your business. Besides high water consumption, traditional methods often wet the surface with excess water, which might make the on-site ground slippery. This might be a falling risk for your employees. Plus, the size of the water droplets might not be optimum to control different types of airborne dust.
Modern dust control systems are more effective than traditional dust control methods. For example, dust control misting cannons leverage the right size of water droplets to control nearly any airborne dust. This prevents the slipstream effect. Plus, you can use the systems to control airborne dust, foul odor, and surface dust simultaneously.
Eliminate Health Risks
Industrial processes release many dust particles, which may endanger employees’ health when inhaled. Science has proved that regularly inhaling industrial dust is connected to dangerous illnesses like lung cancer, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Silicosis. These serious diseases can cause disabilities and death in extreme situations. For example, statistics from the U.K show that more than 500 employees die yearly from silica dust exposure. Investing in high-quality dust control systems reduces these health risks by reducing exposure and controlling the amount of industrial dust in the atmosphere.
Create Better Working Conditions for Workers
Health concerns from industrial dust can make employees take sick leave, which might interfere with usual business activities in a job site, facility, or plant. Additionally, industrial dust particles are bothersome. For this reason, workers would quit their present positions to look for better opportunities that don’t endanger their health. As you are undoubtedly aware, finding quality candidates costs more when there is a high staff turnover rate. Utilize dust control systems like dust collectors, misting cannons, and other dust management strategies to contain dust from operations. As an alternative, while working in an environment with a lot of dust, give your personnel personal safety equipment like face shields and dustproof masks.
Complying with regulations
OSHA requires owners of industrial sites to offer a secure working environment to their staff. There shouldn’t be any recognized hazards at work that might endanger employees. Failing to regulate occupational dust might lead to fines and consequences that might disrupt productivity in industrial sites. According to EPA laws, site owners must take all necessary measures to stop dust from migrating outside their property lines. An industrial site’s dust pollution must not exceed certain air pollution levels. Otherwise, fines and other harsh penalties will be inevitable.
Investing in dust control units has numerous benefits, including complying with industry regulations, reducing employee health risks, and providing a conducive working environment that encourages productivity. Most importantly, modern dust control systems are more effective than traditional dust suppression techniques.