Aluminium is currently used in the food processing, aeronautics, metal working, pharmaceuticals and construction industries thus appropriate precautions need to be taken to prevent the accumulation of aluminium powder in the workplace which, in addition to causing an effective risk of explosion, is harmful to workers’ health.
Aluminium powder: which industrial sectors pose the highest risks to workers’ health?
Aluminium is a metal with numerous positive features, i.e. it is malleable, light and binds easily with other metals and it is now used in many industrial settings because of its flexibility, strength and lightweight. Aluminium is considered to be a relatively safe metal in its finished form, whereas when it is in powder form or 100 μm or smaller dust particles, it reacts violently with the oxygen in the air causing flame bursts and explosions which tend to increase at room temperatures and in atmospheres containing a high oxygen percentage. Mixing water or other contaminants with aluminium powder should also be avoided because when moisture is present the explosion hazard is greater. In order to reduce the risk of aluminium powder explosion, industries that process waste from this metal need to reduce exposure by providing local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release to prevent large amounts of dust accumulating and causing an explosion. Since aluminium is easily oxidizable, the smaller particles are even more dangerous because the slightest ignition source may trigger an explosion.
Currently, aluminium is used in the food processing, aeronautics, metal-working, pharmaceutical and construction industries: In these sectors, all necessary precautions are to be taken to avoid the accumulation of aluminium powder in the workplace as, apart from being a source of explosion, it is harmful to workers’ health. Furthermore, aluminium is well known for being a neurotoxic substance, harmful to the kidneys, in which it accumulates, leading to long-term pathologies. Both chronic and acute exposure to this metal is related to severe psycho-somatic disorders.
How to protect workers against the chemical risk of aluminium powder?
Aluminium is not toxic by contact, but can cause serious health problems if inhaled or ingested. In particular, workers exposed to aluminium or aluminium oxide dust are likely to develop serious and disabling diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, which can be aggravated by the presence of silicates.
People who work in close contact with this material and its waste or powders should be provided with appropriate respirators equipped with filters to purify the contaminated air. The respirators to be used are to be certified to current health and safety standards and be fitted with an ergonomic full face-piece, comfortable for the wearer.
Kasco srl, supplies a powered compact respirator suitable for protection against these risks, which not only protects the face, but also the neck, head and ears and, thanks to the continuous supply of air, breathing strain is reduced. This type of respirator protects workers in numerous industrial settings, such as chemical, pharmaceutical, metallurgical and construction industries, where the use of appropriate filters prevent inhalation of particles, powders, solvents, fumes, and so on.
Apr 16 2018
Aluminium powder hazard: how to protect oneself
Aluminium powder: which industrial sectors pose the highest risks to workers’ health?
Aluminium is a metal with numerous positive features, i.e. it is malleable, light and binds easily with other metals and it is now used in many industrial settings because of its flexibility, strength and lightweight. Aluminium is considered to be a relatively safe metal in its finished form, whereas when it is in powder form or 100 μm or smaller dust particles, it reacts violently with the oxygen in the air causing flame bursts and explosions which tend to increase at room temperatures and in atmospheres containing a high oxygen percentage. Mixing water or other contaminants with aluminium powder should also be avoided because when moisture is present the explosion hazard is greater. In order to reduce the risk of aluminium powder explosion, industries that process waste from this metal need to reduce exposure by providing local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release to prevent large amounts of dust accumulating and causing an explosion. Since aluminium is easily oxidizable, the smaller particles are even more dangerous because the slightest ignition source may trigger an explosion.
Currently, aluminium is used in the food processing, aeronautics, metal-working, pharmaceutical and construction industries: In these sectors, all necessary precautions are to be taken to avoid the accumulation of aluminium powder in the workplace as, apart from being a source of explosion, it is harmful to workers’ health. Furthermore, aluminium is well known for being a neurotoxic substance, harmful to the kidneys, in which it accumulates, leading to long-term pathologies. Both chronic and acute exposure to this metal is related to severe psycho-somatic disorders.
How to protect workers against the chemical risk of aluminium powder?
Aluminium is not toxic by contact, but can cause serious health problems if inhaled or ingested. In particular, workers exposed to aluminium or aluminium oxide dust are likely to develop serious and disabling diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, which can be aggravated by the presence of silicates.
People who work in close contact with this material and its waste or powders should be provided with appropriate respirators equipped with filters to purify the contaminated air. The respirators to be used are to be certified to current health and safety standards and be fitted with an ergonomic full face-piece, comfortable for the wearer.
Kasco srl, supplies a powered compact respirator suitable for protection against these risks, which not only protects the face, but also the neck, head and ears and, thanks to the continuous supply of air, breathing strain is reduced. This type of respirator protects workers in numerous industrial settings, such as chemical, pharmaceutical, metallurgical and construction industries, where the use of appropriate filters prevent inhalation of particles, powders, solvents, fumes, and so on.
By Kasco Srl • Blog •