Respirators vs. dust collector

[Ductmate]

In our water-based sealant production, 50lb bags of Talc are added to our mixer. We currently have a dust collector ducted into the lid of the mixer. When the bags are emptied into the mixer, the mix tank is under slight negative pressure, so any dust is sucked into the tank. We also have a duct near the bag breaker to pick up any additional dust in the air. Overall, the system seems to work very well and we've been doing it this way for ~7 years.

We have a new safety director (someone with no prior safety or engineering experience) who feels that the mixer operator should have to wear a full respirator in addition to using the dust collector. She will be observing the process next week to determine if respirators will be needed. It is my opinion that since there is a dust collector, respirators should not be needed.

OSHA's PEL TWA is 20 mppcf (million parts per cubic foot), and the maximum-use concentration for respirators is 10mg/m3 or 20mg/m3 depending on the type of respirator.

How would you go about determining what the workers exposure to the talc is or what the air concentration of the talc is?

This is plain old talc, no quartz or asbestos content.

Thanks,
Vince

 

[Rich2001]

There are numerous method of determining the dust collection range from simple filtration to Laser diffraction counting techniques.

The general best course of action since yoyu are concerned about inhalable dust by your emplotyees is to obtain the services of a Certified Industrial Hygienist to perform worker inhalable dust collection.

The workers wear a collector that filters the air. The filtrate is then weighed to determine the mass versus the volume of air passed through the filter.

Here is one system

http://www.skcinc.com/prod/225-70.asp

http://www.skcinc.com/instructions/IP10A.pdf

---------------------------------------------

Potential Health Effects

Inhalation:
Inhalation of large amounts of this fine dust may lead to pulmonary edema. May cause irritation to the upper respiratory tract. Tickling cough is a common symptom.

Chronic Exposure:
Prolonged inhalation of dust is associated with respiratory effects. Long term excessive exposures to talc may cause Talcosis, a pulmonary fibrosis which may in turn lead to severe and permanent damage to the lung.

Talc (non-asbestiform) showed evidence of carcinogenicity in rats via inhalation, yet no evidence is found in mice. Chronic inhalation of Talc may cause scarring of the lungs (talcosis).

Crystalline silica: Chronic inhalation of dust can produce silicosis, a disease of the lungs. Cardiopulmonary impairment may occur. Chronic inhalation of crystalline silica is a lung cancer hazard.

 

[safetydan]

Rich2001's comments are right on the mark. Call your risk insurance provider and see if they will send you the services of an IH.

Also, based on your description you are already doing the right thing with all of the ventilation systems. One thing you might want to tell your new safety person is the progression of protection. For any hazard, you first want to implement engineering controls(ventilation, separation), next are administrative controls(limit the time an operator is exposed, shift rotation) and then PPE. Too often the first thing people new to the safety field will do when they see a hazard is throw PPE on someone. You need to sit down and see if other measures can be taken if there is a risk.

 

[tomwalz]

Me too.

Rich2001 and safetydan are right on.

Here, in Washington state, we have a state dept. of Labor and Industries that does this.

Personally I do not like working in a mask and it is hard to get employees to do it.

Our approach is to always first consider some sort of point source additional collection. I am attaching a list we did. We have no connection with any of these companies except as a customer.

tom

68. Air Filtering Equipment – The Easy Cheap Way to a Safer Shop

The dangerous stuff won’t hurt you if it doesn’t get to you. The easiest way to protect your lungs is to breathe clean air. What follows are some suppliers and some information we have found valuable. You can make a huge difference in air quality in small shops for very little money.


Consultants
Most states provide free consulting. If you are in British Columbia then you can contact the Workers’ Compensation Board at (604) 276-3209.

Three Excellent Articles

1. One is by John Ashe of AAF (American Air Filter) International in Louisville, KY. (305) 443-9353. His article is Controlling Welding Fumes in the July, 1997 issue of The Fabricator. Reprints of the article are available by calling (800) 477-1214 and asking for reprint # APC-4-905.

2. Another good article was in the December 1996 issue of the same magazine. It was written by Joe Topmiller who is Director of Technical support for United Air Specialists at (800) 551-5401 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The article is Addressing Air Quality Issues in the Workplace.

3. The third article is on new respiratory standards by Jay G. Mears in Modern Woodworking. (248) 244-6439. It was called: Intelligence Report: Getting Ready for 42 CFR part 84 call MSA and is available at (888) 867-0602.

Equipment Suppliers:

1. AAF International (American Air Filters) –(305) 443-9353 – small line but appropriate for most shop applications – great technical support – (see articles section above). Excellent technical advice.

2. Abicor Binzel (301) 846-4196 Frederick, MD - They only supply fume extraction guns for welding. Great product if you need it.

3. Airflow Systems (214) 503-8008 Dallas, TX – wide variety of units, overhead units, downdraft tables, and portable units – “Dust and fume Exhaust” pamphlet has good technical information. Recommended for literature.

4. Coppus (508) 756-8391 Millbury, MA – unique, portable dust collection systems – also employee coolers for hot areas. Unique products.

5. Dust Vent, Inc. (630) 543-9007 Addison, IL. – Wide range of equipment and good literature. Recommended for literature.

6. Eurovac (905) 850-9828 in Ontario. –Central vacuum cleaner systems and other dust collection equipment.

7. Farr Pollution Control Products (800) 479-6801 Los Angeles, CA. – Overhead cleaning with or without arms.

8. Gardner Environmental Products (414) 485-4303 Horicon, WI –Ceiling mounted and portable units.

9. Industrial Ventilation Group (800) 610-6010 Harbor Springs, MI –Central and portable units, downdraft tables. Recommended for literature.

10. Lincoln Electric (216) 481-8100 –Offers a central collection system and portable units –just one mention in their catalog.

11. MAC Equipment, Inc. (800) 821-2476 – Huge, complete catalog. Excellent information, great source to build your own system. Recommended for literature.

12. Nederman (313) 729-3344 Westland, MI –Nice literature –looks like nice overhead arm extraction equipment –good information on Do It Yourself. Recommended for literature.

13. Plymovent (732) 417-0808 New Jersey –good equipment –great free booklet “My Pocketguide to Clean Fresh Air”. Recommended for literature.

14. Sly, Inc. (216) 891-3200 Cleveland, OH –Shop size central collection systems to huge industrial systems. Recommended for literature.

15. Trion (800) 421-3956 Greensboro, NC –Overhead units –they advertise a free clean air guide.

16. United Air Specialists (800) 551-5401 Cincinnati, Ohio –Invented the original smoke eaters for bars, etc. –Good equipment –good literature and great technical help. Recommended for literature.



Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.

http://www.carbideprocessor.com

 

[rhodie]

The advice to solicit an Industrial Hygenist for Air Quality assement is a good one. Try that first.

To the new safety guy, you might bring up the safety concerns that wearing the additional PPE might present: mask fogging or sweat in the eyes might create a larger hazard for the employees than inhaling talc dust.

If possible, try work rotations so that no one works in an area long enough to develop the chronic illnessess associated with the material.

I work in a paint plant, and we've done all the above and it has worked well.

 

[chicopee]

Before you do any change conduct a full shift( if possible) personal air sampling on the operators and a general air sampling of the work area to determine concentration levels.

 

[Ductmate]

Thanks to everyone who replied. We ended up having representative from our insurance company come in and evaluate the situation. With the dust collection system I have in place, they felt there was no need for respirators. I agreed, and so does the mixer operator!

Vince