Four Common Substances That Could Reduce Industrial Workplace Air Quality
April 23rd, 2021 | Posted in Air Cleaners, General, Welding
Air in industrial workplaces is constantly being exposed to many substances. Many of these are not necessarily harmful for workers, but depending on the type of manufacturing and craft happening in the building they can indeed be very dangerous. What are four common substances that could reduce industrial workplace air quality? Let’s take a look.
1. Welding fumes
Welding in any setting can produce a wide variety of harmful fumes. These fumes can affect the welders themselves and nearby workers, posing a risk of long-lasting ailments or even cancer. Inhalants from welding can include aluminum, cadmium oxides, chromium, fluorides, lead, and more. Fortunately, there are a variety of air filtration systems for welding fume extraction that, combined with safe workplace practices, can go a long way in ensuring the health and safety of workers in a welding environment.
2. Metalworking fluids
Industrial manufacturers typically house a variety of metalworking fluids on-site. Employee exposure to these fluids can occur through inhalation of vapors or aerosolized variants. However, workers can also be exposed to metalworking fluids through skin contact while handling machinery, or administering the fluids through a spray or coat. Metalworking fluids without proper air filtration are a hazard that can result in skin related issues, irritation of the eyes, and breathing difficulties for workers. By installing high quality mist collectors and mist eliminators for metal machining, employers can assist in keeping hazards presented by metalworking fluids to a minimum.
3. Chemicals
There are countless numbers of chemicals used in the process of producing manufactured goods. And in some instances, chemicals can be produced due to a reaction from the manufacturing process itself. Chemicals range from irritant to severely toxic and can result in a variety of health risks for industrial workers. Less harmful chemicals may cause general irritation or sensitization. Certain chemicals, however, are carcinogenic and can even cause sudden death in workers. So for this reason, chemical exposure in a workplace must be given top priority to ensure the health and safety of any workers who are at risk of exposure. In addition, a thorough understanding of chemicals being used or produced by the machinery and production within the space is critical.
To combat chemical exposure in an industrial workplace, air filtration and ventilation are critical engineering controls to improve industrial air quality and keep workers safe. Learn more about our solutions for various chemical-causing processes, including electronic air cleaners and fume extraction systems here.
4. Plastics
In a modern industrial environment, it’s common for plastics to be used just about everywhere. Whether it is in packaging, pipes, medical devices, tools, decorations, toys, or more, plastics generally have a high presence in the item’s composition. That’s why we find that manufacturing consumer goods from raw plastic and the handling of plastic waste can present an array of dangers for industrial worker air quality. Plastic’s prevalence can expose workers to various hazards and irritants. Using proper ventilation and air filtration can assist to reduce and eliminate worker exposure to VOCs, fumes, and dust while the plastic is being processed in any stage of its use cycle so that they are used and disposed of properly and safely. Browse our solutions for various plastic-related health hazards in the workplace, such as general air cleaners for nuisance & process dust.
What about specific workplace dangers?
These four common substances that could reduce industrial workplace air quality certainly do not make up a complete list. If your industrial workplace has unique air quality or air purification needs, don’t hesitate to browse our family of air filtration solutions here or give us a call for a more specific inquiry.