How “a little dust” can do a lot of damage

Why dust collection systems are crucial to your business.

A little dust around the plant or even the office shouldn’t be a big deal, right? Wrong! Dust has the power to cause employee health problems, equipment degradation, and even possess the potential for explosion and fire. How can such a little thing do such big damage?

Breathing in dust

The human nose is a great dust filter. It traps particles and keeps them from reaching the lungs. When a person sneezes or blows their nose, the dust is then eliminated. However, some particulates do get past the nose and airway cilia and enter the lungs. Whether the dust is organic (for example, dust that arises from processing grain) or inorganic (byproducts of silica, asbestos, or coal) the result of dust accumulation can be lung damage and scar tissue or fibrosis, a condition that is life altering and permanent.

Dust on your equipment

Industrial dust will migrate and settle on unprotected equipment, the most susceptible of which are generally computers, monitors and printers. Since this equipment was not designed for an industrial setting, there are very few internal protections in place against dust, making this expensive equipment highly vulnerable. Dust accumulation is one of the primary causes of computer problems and premature failure.

Deadly dust

In 1999, an explosion and deadly fire occurred in a Massachusetts’s foundry, killing three and injuring nine. Upon investigation, the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) determined that an initial equipment fire quickly spread into ventilation system ducts, fueled by heavy deposits of phenol formaldehyde resin dust. In 2003, a fire and explosion that killed six and injured 38 at a North Carolina pharmaceutical plant was attributed to combustible polyethylene dust that had accumulated in the suspended ceilings. And these are just two examples of the dangers of accumulated dust.

Dust Control

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets forth standards on the control of dusts to prevent explosions and fires. Recommendations include “use [of] dust collection systems and filters.” OSHA standards contains ventilation requirements for certain types of operations which involve dust, including combustible dust, along with the removal of dust accumulations.

Clearly, as far as your business is concerned, there’s no such thing as “a little dust.” Combustible and capable of devastation and even death, dust control is critical to your organization and the health and well-being of your employees. It’s important to keep your dust collection system working at maximum efficiency by having it inspected and maintained for continuous, effective use. To do this, you should contact a qualified contractor, such as AEM Mechanical, to inspect your system on a regular basis.