One thing that seems inescapable, whether it’s at home, at work, or somewhere else is dust. It covers surfaces everywhere. It irritates allergies and creates unsightly coatings on surfaces. But sometimes it is necessary to find some way to escape dust, and it can be done with the right dust collection system. While your home may be able to survive dust with a damp cloth and a vacuum cleaner, factories, warehouses, plants, and commercial settings need something a bit more sophisticated.
Manufacturing industries have a long history of poor air quality and unsafe working conditions. Fortunately, there are now many options designed to minimize the risk of working in these industries so that employees stay safe.
How Does a Dust Collection System Work?
In the simplest terms, dust collection systems work much like a household vacuum cleaner, without manual operation. Instead of waiting until the dust settles on surfaces, these systems draw in particles directly from the air. It takes in air, filters out the dust, and returns purified air into the room. The components of dust can differ widely, depending on the environment, so it is important that the dust collection system is prepared to handle these differences. For example, the dust produced in a processing plant is much different than in a warehouse. In both instances, clearing dust from the air is extremely important because the more airborne dust is present the greater the health risk to employees or anyone else who spends time in these environments.
Some industries have a more pressing need for dust collection than others. Industries such as food and beverage processing, textiles, woodworking, oil and energy, recycling, and construction are all examples of environments that could potentially send toxic dust particles into the air. If there are visual signs of dust, such as dust clouds, you’re long overdue to get or upgrade your dust collection system. Things to keep in mind when choosing your system include
- Keeping workers safe from potentially harmful chemicals in dust
- Assuring that your dust collector operates safely
- Be compliant with EPA regulations
- Be compliant with OSHA regulations
- Reduce maintenance costs by collecting dust before it settles.
- Improve overall air quality
Having a proper dust collector can save money too. When dust is out of control maintenance costs rise, and it puts a whole other set of workers at risk. It is also important to be mindful of the requirements of regulatory agencies, such as the EPA and OSHA, which are designed to protect workers and the general public.
What is The Best Dust Collection System?
Choosing the best dust collection system is not a random decision. It needs to be backed by plenty of expertise to assure that it is both safe and effective. It is also important that whatever equipment you choose is properly maintained in order to assure that you get the best benefit from the system. If it is not collecting particles as well as it should, you may need to find a replacement with a higher pressure rating. Heavy-duty collectors have thicker gauge metal and are equipped to handle combustible dust explosions. It is also important not to let the collection of dust become overfilled. There should be a storage container that is clearly separate from the hopper, which should be safely cleaned and maintained, and high-quality filters should be used for best results. These should also be installed in a convenient and ventilated area that allows for easy access to filters so they can be changed out in a timely manner. The filters used should always carry a written emissions guarantee from the filter supplier that assures emissions will stay below requirements set by the EPA as well as OSHA. Emissions performance should be stated as grains per cubic foot or meter, rather than simply promising to remove a certain percentage of contaminants.
Industrial air purifiers and filtration systems are not one size fit all. What may be excellent for one environment may simply not do for another. The decision on what to buy is not for novices. Aair Purification Systems (APS) offers a strong knowledge base when selecting the right dust collection system. They can help your company find the right balance between value and effectiveness when choosing your system. We can help you find dust collectors and other air purifying systems that are both environmentally friendly and energy-efficient and offer installation of this equipment across a wide variety of industries.
With our expertise, we can make sure your company checks all the boxes when it comes to keeping regulators happy and your employees, clients, or customers safe.
When it comes to the air you breathe, “good enough” isn’t good enough. Previous generations of workers have suffered various lung diseases including cancers, because they spent years working in environments with poor air quality. Fortunately, air filtration and dust collection has come a long way and these industries are much safer because of it. Having the right guidance on your side goes a long way to showing your employees that you are on their side.
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