Page 114 - Occupational Health & Safety, September 2017

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
Pressure Increases to Implement Safe Alternatives to Compressed Air
Growing awareness of the dangers and potential liabilities of compressed air has industries and institutions exploring new options.
BY MICHAEL HURLEY
Microscopic contaminants and particulates pose significant risks to exposed personnel.
C
ompressed air is so commonly used in commercial, industrial, and institutional settings that it is often incorrectly assumed to be less potentially dangerous than
immediate risks, compressed air systems have proven to be costly to install, operate, and maintain in full compliance with safety regulations. The existence of high-pressure compressed air for pneumatic operations may increase insurance liabilities.
Evolving workplace safety regulations and in- creased awareness of the risks and costs associated with traditional compressed air have created a rap- idly expanding market for a new generation of low- pressure systems for use where compressed air would pose an unacceptable level of risk. These systems are typically designed to limit exposure to pressurized air streams and airborne particulates and operate at noise levels well within regulatory guidelines. An unexpect- ed benefit of these alternative systems is that they are also generally less expensive to operate.
High Pressure Equals High Risk
The optimal operating pressure for compressed air systems in industrial and manufacturing applications is typically between 80 and 120 psi, although some systems specify even higher pressures. These
it actually is. In fact, there are numerous hazards associated with compressed air, and accidents and injuries involving compressed air cost U.S. business millions of dollars each year. These costs are both direct and indirect, involving medical emergencies, equipment damage, production wastage, production downtime, as well as rising insurance costs and increased regulatory burdens.
Compressed air poses three distinct inherent risks: from air pressure, airborne particulate matter, and noise. These risks are increased when compressed air technology is used in an unsafe or negligent manner and also when the equipment is not maintained in optimal condition. Thousands of accidents occur each year because employees are improperly trained or unaware of the dangers of compressed air, and thousandsmorearetheresultofimproperlyinstalled or maintained systems or components. Beyond these
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