Many pigments contain metallic compounds that give them brilliant colors. Unfortunately, some of those metals are quite toxic. In industrial facilities that work with paints, inks and dyes, pigment dust can become a serious problem for workers’ health. Metals present in many pigments include cadmium, zinc oxide, and hexavalent chromium. Cadmium is a soft metal that is useful in producing bright yellow, orange and red colors. Zinc oxide, sometimes also called “Snow White” or “Chinese White,” is a white powder used in a wide array of industrial processes. Hexavalent chromium is a compound that is used in some pigments and can also serve as an anti-corrosive agent in coatings and paints. Many of these elements and compounds carry significant risks when they travel through a facility in the form of dust.
Paint applications often require the use of dust collection equipment to reduce hazardous chemical production. Paint is an important part of many manufacturing processes. Although it’s a necessary process in certain applications, the airborne paint pigment particulate left from the manufacturing process is often great in volume and creates a need for an efficient dust collection system to limit any hazardous work environments. Proper remediation for these harmful dusts requires an effectively designed system. Selecting the correct application-specific filter media is crucial in maintaining dust collection efficiency and filter life.
Dust / VOC fumes produced in paint industry can put employees at risk of respiratory, skin or eye problems, depending on the chemicals. Some powder pigment dusts can also cause long-term damage to employee health, which is why you should install the right equipment that can reduce these hazards. An effective combination of powder dust collection equipment can give your facility what it needs to meet OSHA requirements and ensure employee safety.
Hexavalent chromium is a common chemical compound that is generated from any source of ‘hot work’ on stainless steel. Inhaled hexavalent chromium is widely recognized as a human carcinogen that is extremely harmful to employee’s lungs if overly exposed. Some of the negative health effects associated with exposure to hexavalent chromium include occupational asthma, eye damage, respiratory irritation, and perforated eardrums. More severe internal effects may include kidney damage, liver damage, respiratory cancer, and pulmonary congestion. The health risks of exposure to this chemical can not only harm your staff, but they can also lead to lawsuits that may contribute to the decommissioning of your facility.[read_more id=”1″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]Depending on the type of metal undergoing welding, different types of fumes and smoke will be produced and released in the workspace. Certain coatings can also have a toxic effect, including metal working fluids, oils, rust inhibitors, paints, solvents, plastics, cadmium plating, and more. Each of these chemicals can cause serious harm to employees or damage equipment over time, which is why it’s important to remove them from your facility as much as possible. With the right smoke and weld fume collection equipment installed in your facility, you’ll be able to provide sufficient protection for employees at all times, significantly reducing the possibility of health issues.
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Depending on the size of your facility and the level of hazardous dust your operations produce, DeGATECH Engineering team can design and install a system of dust collectors to reduce this risk and maintain employee health. Our dust collectors require minimal maintenance, with lower initial purchase prices.
