In addition to the fire and explosion hazards of dust, the industrial hygiene aspect of fine particles can impact and affect, the facility workers health, leading to illnesses, and injuries. "The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 6.1 percent of private-sector employees suffered 5.7 million workplace injuries and illnesses in 2000. Forty-six percent of those injury cases required days away from work for recuperation or restricted work activity.
J. Paul Leigh of the Stanford Medical Center notes that businesses spend $170.9 billion a year on costs associated with occupational injuries and illnesses—expenditures that come straight out of company profits. Injuries and illnesses increase workers’ compensation and retraining costs, absenteeism, and production faults. They also decrease productivity, morale, and ultimately, profits.
Fortunately, statistics from injury and illness reports filed with OSHA show that workplaces that establish safety and health management systems reduce their injury and illness costs by 20 to 40 percent. "In today’s competitive business environment,"
High ceiling and surface cleaning, Air Conveyance Cleaning, Dust collector cleaning, Conveyor Belt cleaning, Silo tank cleaning, Lab Fume Hood cleaning, and dust control vacuuming, are some of the services, that may be required to clean the combustible dust. These services help prevent airborne dust and particulates, from accumulating, in the manufacturing and production facilities. These services may also help promote equipment longevity, may decrease utility costs for operating equipment, may increase the brightness of lighting, may stabilize insurance rates, and may allow a greater Return On Investment on manufacturing equipment.
Combustible Dust cleaning should be performed by a certified and trained cleaning company. The certified training should be similar to the N.A.D.C.A., I.A.Q.A., O.S.H.A., and I.I.C.R.C. cleaning standards. Additionally, the certified cleaning contractor, should have the proper Industrial equipment. Most importantly is an industrial, explosion-proof, dust collecting H.E.P.A. vacuum, as the main piece of equipment. Broom sweeping and compressed air, is not a viable means of cleaning combustible dust, by the NFPA 654 Combustible Dust Standard. The act of broom sweeping, and compressed air, actually stirs up dust into the air, which may create more issues with sensitive equipment that provide ignition sources, and possible dust explosions.
Performing combustible dust cleaning requires several important precautionary measures. The first and most important procedure is safety. Preventing Static Electricity, sparking, and any electrical charge, is the first preventative step. Proper grounding of in-house electrical systems, equipment, forklifts, high reach equipment, vacuums, extension cords, and lighting, is mandatory, by the NFPA 654 Standard.
Next, information on the fire and explosion hazards concerning the ignition sensitivity and explosion severity of the product must be acquired from the MSDS sheets. If this information is not in the MSDS then
testing and sampling of the powder and bulk dust particulate is required.
The simple act of dragging a piece of metal, across a concrete floor, can create a spark, which can lead to a dust explosion. Proper lock-out/tag-
Combustible dust cleaning, involves several main aspects of cleaning. First, always work from ceiling, to walls, to floor. The floor is considered the easiest and last part of the cleaning procedure. All corrugated, metal ceilings, trusses, rafters, beams, Air Conveyance Systems, Dust Collectors, Ductwork, Lab Fume Hoods, piping, conduit, fire suppression system, lighting, walls, stationary equipment, conveyor belts, etc., should be cleaned in conjunction. The actual cleaning and removing of dust, and particulate build-up, will consist of several cleaning techniques and methods. Cleaning and removal of the grease and particulate build up, should be performed by H.E.P.A. vacuuming, and/or mechanical Wet Wiping, for any surface, to remove any dust and particulate. This portion of cleaning should be performed under containment, to prevent any cross-contamination of other areas and equipment. Mechanical cleaning procedures are based on parameters set by the National Fire Protection Association, (N.F.P.A.), the Fire Protection Research Foundation, the National Air Duct Cleaning Association, (N.A.D.C.A.)
Not all cleaning vendors are alike in safe cleaning procedures, techniques, quality, and pricing. Be aware of vendors who only clean using dirty rags, brooms, push brooms, compressed air, dustpans, and contaminated cleaning equipment. Facility owners should ask the vendor they hire, to provide a Liability Insurance, and Workmen’s Compensation certificate, before and after cleaning pictures, of the complete cleaning, to build a good business relationship. These pictures will document in detail, the quality cleaning the vendor is performing. A certificate of completion, for the combustible dust cleaning, is also required for insurance policies. A clean and safe facility is important for worker morale. Just remember the old saying, “You get what you pay for.”
These ideas are helpful basics, in combustible dust cleaning.
Jon Barrett
Business Development Specialist
Interior Maintenance Company, Inc.- Providing Green Cleaning Services For Your Facility!
Cell# 267-886-7903 or # 800-220-6547 Fax# 610-626-8860
Visit us at www.imc.cc
Jon Barrett is the business development specialist with Interior Maintenance Company, Inc, located in Lansdowne, PA. He is N.F.P.A. and Fire Protection Research Foundation trained for Explosive Dust Cleaning, Chilworth Technology trained for Dust Explosion Inspection, an Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) technician, and American BioRecovery Association (ABRA) certified technician in several categories, and he is an International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning (IKECA)-Professional Exhaust Cleaning Technician.
