bringing better blasting to industry
Safety Tips for Blast Room Operators
in an era of COVID - plus many more need-to-know tips!
Did you know:
"At least 44% of all infections--and the majority of community-acquired transmissions--occur from people without any symptoms (asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people).
You can be shedding the virus into the environment for up to 5 days before symptoms begin."
The above quote is taken from this article, which is very informative - and just one of many interesting things to know, to keep you, your coworkers, and families safe.
Practical tips, practices, and products
for the wellbeing of blast prep workers.
General tips for working clean, safe, and virus-free
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Wear the right respirator. Dry blasting AND outdoor wet blasting!
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Sharing respirators and clothing is like sharing underwear – so, issue one set per worker – so everyone breathes clean air while working, and does not inhale others’ germs.
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Clean and sanitize protective equipment often, and respirators before putting away (Instructions are in the operating manuals, with general tips shown in "Part 2 - Sanitizing" - below).
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If you don't have a backup helmet, and need to send another worker into the blast room, at least have a clean, spare cape on hand. Change it out before the new guy dons the helmet, and be sure he cleans it well (again, see below under "Part 2 - Sanitizing").
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Use glass cleaner and Lysol for the blast room view windows, handles, controls, and all user interfaces and touch surfaces.
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Shovel and sweep instead of using a blow-gun, where possible. And keep the dust collector turned on to ventilate the blast room while cleaning up.
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Always handle workpieces with clean gloves.
Changeout of lenses and vests of high quality blasting respirators is a snap.
At minimum, daily: Sanitize all surfaces of hard plastic – inside and out. Change inner and outer lenses. And, IF workers are not issued their own Type CE respirator (we feel they should be), swap-in the next worker’s own cape.
This is NOT a blasting respirator*.
It offers little protection.
It is hot to use & its lens fogs up.
Use it for beekeeping; never for blasting.
*Though some sell it as one!
Using the right respirator is key – here are basics
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OSHA requires blasting-specific, air-fed hoods. Type CE Respirators – specific to abrasive blasting – must be worn by those working in walk-in blast rooms (and on outdoor jobsites with open blasting).
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Bullard has been making Type CE respirators the longest and offers the lightest and most user-friendly. Spare parts are easily available.
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Dawson-Macdonald offers several brands, though. Contact us for pricing on your preference of blasting helmet.
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Local, loyal customers are always offered the training they need - often for free from Dawson-Macdonald - experts in the field in the Northeast USA.
Bullard's newest air-fed blasting helmet is a good example of a modern, user-friendly respirator.
NIOSH-certified to comply with OSHA.
A quality, well-maintained respirator - coupled with well trained staff - are the basis of a safe blasting experience.
Check for CO gas - it's deadly. And, breathe Grade D air.
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Carbon Monoxide (CO) can be produced by air compressors or sucked into the breathing air if an engine exhaust is near the fresh air source. CO is odorless, tasteless, and deadly. All blasting respirators fed by compressed air need a CO Monitor. And, they need to be calibrated regularly, typically every month - keep a log in case OSHA comes calling. The NEW AirGuard (pictured) offers exciting new features such as data logging (per OSHA requirements) that's automated, intuitive calibration. & 7" display.
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Ambient Air Pumps (Like Bullard's FreeAir pump) do not require a CO Monitor be used. So, they can be simpler. However, the downside is they don't offer great worker cooling options (compressed air systems do).
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Your supply air for respirators must meet Grade D standards for breathing.
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You're not locked into any one system. Check out Breathing Air Choices -at BlastPrep.com - a very informative primer for those who wish to do the right thing for their employees.
Carbon Monoxide monitoring is the law for compressed air breathing systems - and these automate data logging.
Dawson-Macdonald also offers Carbon Monoxide Monitoring and REMOVAL sytems, such as this version.
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Belt-worn cooling (or heating) device.
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Best-performing helmet-cooling options are designed to work with a compressed air source, though a there are those that work with a large FreeAir Pump.
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Different versions of COOLING VESTS also available to reduce heat fatigue - inquire.
Blast with an air conditioned hood or a lightweight cooling vest!
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Many blasting respirators can be cooled or heated by up to 30-degrees Fahrenheit! It's a simple add-on with no moving parts.
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The lightweight, blue cooling vest shown here is engineered to maintain a constant 55° F for hours.
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Contact us for pricing and info.
Maintaining your respirators - Part 1 - In General...
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REMEMBER, THE AIR YOU BREATHE WILL NOT BE CLEAN UNLESS THE RESPIRATOR YOU WEAR IS CLEAN.
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Refer to the specific operating manual, but here is general advice:
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Change filters regularly. if you're using a "personal airline filter" (like the yellow one shown to the right), replace the filter element when you detect odors or tastes while wearing the air fed hood - or annually. For a Bullard Free Air Pump, change filters at the 200 and 500 hour intervals as noted in the manual.
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Blasting respirators are certified as a system. So, when you replace a part, it must be replaced with the same brand's exact same recommended spare - no substitutions and NO "pirate parts." Not doing so invites an OSHA fine.
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If the fittings used on your air fed respirator are Hansen style, do not use those same type quick-connectors elsewhere in your shop! People have died from hooking their fresh-air helmet into non-breathable gasses; it may be hard to fathom but it does happen - tragically!
Use quick disconnect fittings that are unique to breathing air, for your shop!
Change breathing air filters as required -
in the Personal Airline Filter (yellow - above) or the Free Air Pump (green - right).
Maintaining your respirators - Part 2 - Sanitizing
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REMEMBER, THE AIR YOU BREATHE WILL NOT BE CLEAN UNLESS THE RESPIRATOR YOU WEAR IS CLEAN.
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Clean and sanitize protective equipment often, and respirators before putting away (Instructions are found in the operating manuals)
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Bullard recommends regular inspection and cleaning, including:
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CAPES: Machine wash the cape in cold or warm water using a gentle cycle. Use a mild laundry detergent. Air-dry only. After cleaning, carefully inspect the cape once again for signs of damage. Do not use volatile solvents to clean this respirator or any parts and assemblies. Strong cleaning and disinfecting agents, and many solvents, can damage the plastic parts.
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HEADBAND AND SUSPENSION: The headband suspension and chin strap should be hand-sponged with warm water and mild detergent, rinsed and air-dried. After cleaning and before reassembling, once again carefully inspect the parts for signs of damage.
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HELMET: The helmet and window frame should be hand-sponged with warm water and mild detergent, rinsed and air-dried. After cleaning and before reassembling, once again carefully inspect the helmet and parts for signs of damage
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LENSES: To clean the lenses, hand-sponge with warm water and mild detergent, rinse and air-dry.
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BREATHING TUBE ASSEMBLY: To clean the breathing tube, hand-sponge with warm water and mild detergent, being careful not to get water inside. Rinse and air-dry. After cleaning, once again carefully inspect breathing tube for signs of damage.
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AIR SUPPLY HOSE: The air supply hose(s) should be hand-sponged with warm water and mild detergent, rinsed and air-dried. Do not get water inside the air supply hose. After cleaning, once again carefully inspect air supply hose(s) for signs of damage. Bullard air supply hose is not included in the purchase of respirator assembly and must be purchased separately. Bullard air supply hose must be used in order to maintain respirator assembly compliance.
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RECENTLY, BULLARD HAS PROVIDED THIS WIDE-RANGING GUIDE, WHICH INCLUDES TESTED CLEANERS AND DECONTAMINATION AGENTS: https://www.bullard.com/healthcare/article/guide-to-cleaning-bullard-ppe
Using appropriate worker clothing
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It's time to stop using Tyvec jumpers, which offer little protection. Leather suits are hot. Canvas jackets & trousers allow grit to creep in and irritate. Blasting-specific garments have gotten much better in recent years.
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Suit Up & Dress for Success! Check out the good-better-best selection shown in the right-hand column - these are purpose-built blasting suits. Many are easy to launder. We've even built custom big-guy sizes!
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To keep cool, try our simple operator air conditioning devices - they can cool the air by as much as 30-F. Some can heat the worker in winter, too!
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OSHA requires specific choices of worker protection during blasting. Check this link on BlastPrep.com.
Blasting
Accidents
Happen.
Save your skin with blast-specific clothing!
Seeing clearly means working safer
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To blast safely, quickly, and effectively in a blast room, you need good visibility. Points to remember:
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Blast with a durable abrasive that doesn't break into dust easily!
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You need a powerful dust collector blower - at minimum (depending upon conditions), the draft should exceed 50 feet per minute.
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Don't build overly tall or wide blast rooms. Length doesn't matter though.
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Replace respirator lenses often. Optional are peel-away lenses.
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Replace the Lexan covers on your lighting regularly.
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Install extra area lighting if needed (We can help.)
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Add a nozzle-mounted or helmet-mounted light (see photos!).
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Maintenance is key - especially for dust collectors & filter changeouts.
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Are there inlet filters on the room? Check and change often.
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Blast with a lean mixture - you'll see better and be done quicker!
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Eliminate dust by all means, whatever it takes.
Visibility is key to safety and quality work!
Check on your blasters while they're alone & inside
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Is there a viewing window for the supervisor to check on the blaster's safety? Use our Safety Window Kit - with a generous 14" x 22" view in - designed for blasting! It's P/N 140544 - contact us for pricing.
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Is it frosted over from blasting ricochet? Protect it with plastic (509191) or perf screen (509201) inserts. Or - better - order the All Clear kit for this window and renew the view quickly and inexpensively from the dispenser with its 40' roll of mylar already in place and ready to go.
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A Lighted Exit Sign might be required for your blast worker. But ordinary signs aren't intended for such an environment - so do what this customer did and buy the 140544 Window Kit and mount the sign to it from outside.
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How about talking with your worker when he is suited up? Stay connected and safe on the job with the BCX hands-free, wireless communication system. The BCX gives you peace of mind while working in remote locations knowing that you and your crew are in constant communication with one another.
Blast Room view windows and instant communications for safe, productive work
Noise Alert - protect hearing & more
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Blast rooms can emit very high noise levels - inside and outside the room.
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Shouting (like singing) is actually a big factor in "hotspot" COVID-19 transmission (or common flu virus; who want's that?!) - disbursing lots of virus droplets from deep within the lungs. Reduce shop noise levels - starting with one of the biggest offenders: your blast room - and work smarter.
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Blast at the lowest PSI that does the work in the timeframe required - I find many operations "cranked up to 11" when they definitely need not.
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Add silencers to the blowers. For Torit, we offer silencers rated at 70 dBA!!
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VFD with integrated Airflow Controllers reduce blower noise tremendously. They also save energy while saving you a lot of money, and reduce your maintenance workload, too.
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Blast on 2nd shift if possible, and minimize disturbance.
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Blasters must wear hearing protection. Same for workers nearby.
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Check out the clever noise warning monitor one of my customers incorporated into their operations to warn those nearby of high noise levels!
Excessive noise levels trigger this flashing alert!
A good silencer for the blower should be basic equipment. This one is 70 dBA!
We offer many ways to quiet the noise generated by blast rooms.
A modern, integrated dust collector control panel with VFD / Airflow controller
Dealing with Dust
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Wear your respirator whenever you are in the blast room, even while blowing off, sweeping, and cleaning up. Your blasting respirator is best; typically offering a 1000-times protection factor!
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Maintain the dust collector and empty it often - while wearing your respirator.
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OSHA wants you to sweep (and vacuum) when possible, instead of blowing dust with compressed air.
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Clean the area around the blast room and dust collector regularly.
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Check that you aren't using hazardous materials, like silica sand - or removing heavy metals, like lead or cadmium - they're all toxic. Check the MSDS and warnings on the packaging - some common abrasives exceed 1% free silica. Don't use them, especially in an indoor blast room.
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Manufactured abrasives are preferred over mined grits - you'll find they are less dusty, more durable, offer better results, cleanup, costs, and safety.
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Have your dusts tested before disposal. Keep a record.
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Be aware that many common dusts are explosive - see tips elsewhere at BlastPrep.com.
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Dust collectors can be a nuisance (the older, the worse they are!). Check out the latest, 4th gen Torit DFE Dust Collector - compact, clean, powerful, economical, and simple to service!
Shovel and sweep instead of using a blow-gun, where possible.
And keep the dust collector running while cleaning up.
Are you using the safest blasting medium? Does it exceed 1% free silica?
Dawson-Macdonald's showroom offers a first-hand view of many of the safety upgrades from this page.
General Blast Room Tips & OSHA Requirements
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Click here for a shortcut to OSHA requirements for blasting and other safety-related writeups on BlastPrep.com!
Watch this Video for Blast Workers
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Click here for a shortcut to the Bullard video on best practices.
Do you have additional blasting safety tips to share?
Wish to inquire about details of items of interest on this page? Click: Contact us. Thanks!
Caution: The features and steps outlined on this page are individual actions you may opt to take to make your workplace safer, as a part of a more comprehensive overall approach in infection prevention and general worker health & safety. None have been tested specifically with coronavirus in mind. They are simply intended to inform you of available solutions, and NOT as a guarantee of safety. Check with your EHS department, local regulators, OSHA, the CDC, and WHO.