Dust HazardsDust Hazards

Presenter: Elman Shikhkerimov

Safety Advisor

Dust In General

• Your body protects you against some dust.

• Not all the dust that you breathe in gets into your lungs.

• The larger particles are filtered out in your nose and the tubes leading to your lungs (the bronchi and bronchioles). These particles are coughed up, spat out or swallowed.

• So only the finest dust particles reach your lungs. Usually these dusts are too fine for you to see them. These fine dust particles which can enter deep into the lungs are called 'respirable dust'.

• Much of the dust that does get into your lungs is cleared out by the lungs own defence system.

• But your body cannot protect you against all dust particles.

Tips

Showings of dust:

• Eye irritation

• Odours

• Visible dust clouds

• Deteriorated old paint

• Loose materials for construction – sand, cement etc

• Problems with breathing

Irritant Dust Hazards

• Even the larger dust particles that don't get to the lungs can cause problems.

• Dust in the nose and in the tubes leading to your lungs can irritate them, causing rhinitis or bronchitis.

Respirable Dust Hazards

• If too much dust enters the lungs, it can overwhelm the lungs own defences. Dust particles and dust - containing macrophages can collect in the lung tissues and damage them.

• Some types of dust, such as silica and asbestos, cause permanent scarring in the lungs. This is called fibrosis.

• Some dusts, such as asbestos, cause lung cancer. Some dusts (for example many animal, grain and wood dusts) can trigger an allergic reaction by the lungs. These types of dusts can also trigger asthma attacks.

Dusts vs. HazardsDUST HAZARDS

Silica Severe breathlessness. Bronchitis. Scarred lungs (silicosis). Lung cancer.

Coal Severe breathlessness. Scarred lungs (coal pneumoconiosis).

Asbestos Cancer (mesothelioma, lung cancer). Scarred lungs (asbestosis).

Synthetic Material Fibres (SMF) e.g. ceramic fibres, rockwool, fibreglass

Irritants. Fibres made from SMF may possibly cause cancer if the fibres are very fine (less than 3 microns in diameter).

Cotton dust Severe breathlessness (bysnossis).

Wood dust Allergic reaction and or asthma. Nasal cancer

Other animal and vegetable dusts Many of these can cause an allergic reaction and or asthma. Symptoms include breathlessness, dry cough, sore throat

Explosion Hazards

• Organic dusts (e.g. flour, grain, wood dusts), coal dust, metal dust and sulphur dust can be an explosion hazard.

• If a dense cloud of any of these dusts forms, or if layers of these dusts accumulate, then one spark (or even a hot surface) can ignite it.

• These conditions can occur in handling and storage equipment, so it's important for all possible sources of ignition to be removed and kept away from these areas (e.g. welding, slipping belts, sources of static electricity).

• Electrical equipment in these areas should be 'dust ignition proof rated'.

Control Measures

• Safe machinery and equipmentDusty work processes should be isolated if possible. An exhaust ventilation system is often needed to suck dust away. Vacuum tools or negative pressure portable tools are often useful. Ordinary household vacuum cleaners don't effectively trap respirable dust particles. You need a vacuum with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. Where there is an explosion hazard you need an explosion proof vacuum cleaner.

• Safe procedures

Standardised working procedures are needed in areas where dust can be a problem. Information and training is important. Warning signs may be needed. Good housekeeping procedures (e.g. vacuuming or wet sweeping dusty work areas) are needed

• Respirators

If steps 1 and 2 are not completely effective then an approved respirator is needed. Make sure that A it fits properly and is the right kind of respirator B training in how to use it is provided and C maintenance checks are carried out.

Wood Dust

• Machining operations, e.g. sawing, routing and turning

• Sanding, by machine and by hand; and

• Using compressed air lines to blow dust off furniture and other articles before spraying

Wood Dust

•Skin disorders

•Obstruction in the nose

•A type of asthma

•A rare type of nasal cancer

•Reduce the generation of dust

•Dust control equipment

•Plant & equipment maintenance

•PPE, washing facilities

•Vacuum cleaners

•Training of personnel

HAZARDS

CONTROLS

Grain Dust

• Long considered an unpleasant but necessary part of agricultural working conditions, airborne dusts - complex mixtures of plant, bacterial and fungal materials - are increasingly recognized as serious health risks.

• Known by a variety of names, usually referring to the occupation of the patient (for example, bark-strippers' disease), the medical conditions caused by exposure to airborne dusts can lead to short- or long-term disability and, occasionally, death.

Grain Dust

•Organic dust toxic syndrome

•Silo unloaders’ disease

•Inhalation fever

•Toxic pneumonitis

•Avoid crop rotations that favour fungal infection

•First dry the material

•Work outside if bales or grain appears mouldy

•Wear PPE

•Use fans, exhaust blowers and filters

•Training of personnel

HAZARDS

CONTROLS

Asbestos Dust

• Asbestos is a fibrous material that occurs naturally in many parts of the world.

• Three main types:

– Chrysotile – white asbestos

– Amosite – brown asbestos

– Crocodolite – blue asbestos

• Asbestos was widely used before in construction, insulating pipes and in other processes

Asbestos Dust

•Removal of damaged asbestos by competent personnel

•Encapsulation

•Physical protection of asbestos from being damaged

•Follow procedures

•Lung cancer – usually leads to death

•Asbestosis – affects breathing, leading to disability, and can cause death

•Mesothelioma – leads to death

HAZARDS

CONTROLS

Other Dangerous Dusts

• Radioactive dust – Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (LSA)

• Deteriorated old paints – lead dust

• Silica dust

• Cotton dust

• Coal dust

Home Dust

• Sheets, pillows and blankets in nearly half of American homes may contain enough allergens from house dust mites to trigger asthma and serious allergies.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Services (NIEHS) found this disturbing result in a July 1998 to August 1999 survey of 800 residences across the United States. The survey revealed proteins from dust mites at levels sufficient to cause allergies in more than 45 percent of the homes — an estimated 44 million nationwide — and enough to trigger asthma in an estimated 23 percent of those — 22 million homes nationwide.

Home Dust

• What are dust mites?

Dust mites are tiny organisms with eight legs, distantly related to spiders. You can't see them with the naked eye. Other than allergies, they don't cause any harm. They like to live in areas that are warm and humid and can be found in many homes. Some people are allergic to dust mites' decayed bodies and fecal material, which become components of airborne household dust.

Home Dust

It's almost impossible to clear your house of dust, but isn't there something you can do?

• Reduce dust mite exposure by reducing humidity – keep relative humidity less than 40 percent

• Reduce overall amount of dust – use allergy-proof encasements over the bedding, including mattresses, pillows etc.

• Remove carpets

• Air filters

• Vacuum cleaners

•Strong winds over dry ground that has little or no vegetation can lift particles of dust or sand into the air. •These airborne particles can reduce visibility, cause respiratory problems, and have an abrasive effect on machinery. •A concentration reducing the visibility to 1/4 mile or less often poses hazards for travelers.

Dust Storms

Dust Storms

• Dust storms cause a significant reduction in visibility (to 1/4 mile or less), cause damage and injury, and affect commerce.

• There are two situations that lead to the development of blowing dust or sand: sustained high wind at the surface, which tends to pick up dust and sand in dry environments. This condition may last for several hours or even days and may occur simultaneously with a windstorm.

Dust Vulnerable Areas in AzBU

• Sangachal Terminal & Terminal Expansion

• Pipelines

• Projects

Special attention must be paid to Ground Disturbance, Driving, Working at

Heights and Lifting Operations!• Use respirators

• If possible work inside of enclosures

• Use local exhaust system

• Wet the dust

• Maintain housekeeping standards

• Stop the car if driving