Page 54 - OHS, April/May 2023

COMBUSTIBLE DUST ■ Dusty air is not to pass through the fan or blower. ■ Electrical motors must not be in the dust-laden air stream unless listed for Class II, Division 1 locations. ■ No paper fifilter elements for liquid or wet collection. ■ Metal dust vacuums must be listed for Class II, Division 1, Group E environments and meet other NFPA 484 requirements for metals. Beware of imposters that claim to be explosion-proof but are not certified. The best choice to keep a facility safe is to select a certified explosion-proof vacuum. NRTL certification information will be stamped on the vacuum’s nameplate. If your manufacturing environment is certified, your choice is clear. You must select a vacuum certified for that environment. 5. Get a Site Assessment A site assessment can help make the right decision. Some vacuum suppliers offer a site assessment as part of the sales process. If so, you should take advantage of it. Effective site assessments include: Brief walkthrough. Identify where various cleaning methods or equipment could help you prevent safety hazards and remain in compliance with regulatory standards. Identification of hazards. Rely on the expertise of your vendor partner to identify any areas of noncompliance you might not be aware of so that you can address them in your DHA and cleaning plan. Series of questions. This is the time for your vendor partner to ask the right questions to fully understand how to help you. If they aren’t asking a lot of questions, beware. Equipment recommendations. Recommendations should be tailored to your needs and ensure that you have the right power supply, airline diameter and pressure, etc. to support the equipment you want. Product demonstrations. Make sure to take full advantage of this opportunity for your staff to “test drive” the equipment at your facility. Demos are critical to your selection. There is a lot to consider in properly identifying hazards and selecting the right equipment to help mitigate those risks. All the above steps can reduce the risk of dangerous incidents and ensure compliance with combustible dust requirements. Mike Summers, Business Development Manager, has been with Nilfisk for eight and a half years, working in the industrial vacuum division. He is a graduate of Indiana University. REFERENCES 1. ohsonline.com/articles/2023/01/30/combustible-dust-national- emphasis-program.aspx?admgarea=ht.Incentives&m=1 2. www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of- codes-and-standards/detail?code=660 ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited Testing Lab Fauske & Associates (FAI) offers a complete range of services to help you address hazards that pose risk to your process facililty and ensure compliance with relevant industry standards Combustible Dust Testing & Consulting Gas & Vapor Flammability Testing & Consulting Chemical Reactivity Testing & Consulting On-Site Services w w w.fauske.com Can Your Company Afford the Cost of a Cut? I Workplace disruption I Loss in productivity I Missed workdays I Unforeseen costs Insurance representatives and safety trainers require preventive measures. With no exposed blades and comfortable, ergonomic design, The Safety Knife Company tools are a unique alternative which can reduce claims and increase productivity. To order, call us today! The Safety Knife Company L.L.C. www.safetyknifeus.com Ph: 314-645-3900 Fax: 314-645-0728 Email: sales@safetyknife.us.com 54 Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL/MAY 2023 www.ohsonline.com