August 2024

HAVEN’T I ALREADY BEEN COMPLYING WITH OSHA’S PEL STANDARD?

Posted on August 19, 2024 - OSHA, PEL

Respirable crystalline silica dust, a harmful airborne pathogen that causes adverse health effects. The general industry and maritime employers were required to comply with OSHA’s PEL and Crystalline Silica Dust Standard on June 23, 2018. The Crystalline Silica Dust Standard required employers to provide medical surveillance to the employees exposed to above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) standard for 30 days or more a year. With 2020 quickly approaching, this medical surveillance standard is overdue. Once June 23, 2020 comes around employers will be required to provide medical surveillance to employees exposed to above the action level for 30 days or more a year.

 What is the difference between Action Level and PEL?

Permissible exposure limit (PEL) is the maximum amount of time a worker can be exposed to a concentrated chemical amount according to OSHA. There are differing exposure limits based on the individual chemical a worker is being exposed to. These exposure limits are calculated based on a time weighted average. These limits are put in place to understand what type of medical surveillance employees need after encountering harmful chemicals.

Action levels are used to showcase a health or physical hazard workers may encounter. OSHA found that the level of hazardous substances within the workplace activities required medical surveillance. As medical surveillance increases industrial hygiene monitoring and biological monitoring. It is important to note that most action levels are one half the PEL. The intent is to update a vast majority of exposures below the PEL level.

If you are currently finding that your exposure level is close to 50% or exceeds 50%, you should consider taking appropriate action. When June 23, 2020 comes around you will be required to comply with the new action level standard.

How can Industrial Vacuum Equipment assist me?

Consider looking at our line of industrial HEPA drum top vacuums, or dust collection systems, as they help combat against airborne particles floating within your industries workplace. If you have any questions about our product compliance feel free to contact us today. We have equipment available for rent and purchase.

INDUSTRIAL VACUUMS VS. DUST COLLECTORS: BERYLLIUM CONTROL MEASURES

Posted on August 19, 2024 - Beryllium Control, Industrial Vacuums

With the release of OSHA’s final beryllium standard in 2019, foundries were expected to already be in compliance to enact beryllium control measures. Proper equipment ensures that beryllium exposure is limited to the required level, protecting foundry workers from long-term health problems – such as berylliosis caused by their working conditions. Industrial Vacuum offers two options for beryllium control dust in foundries as displayed in the infographic below.

Berylliosis is caused by too much beryllium exposure, or chronic beryllium disease (CBD). This form of beryllium poisoning is a chronic lung disease with a mortality rate between 5-38%. Partner with Industrial Vacuum in protecting your foundry workers by browsing our industrial vacuums and industrial dust collectors for beryllium control measures. For further information about how our industrial vacuums and dust collectors can help beryllium control, contact us today.

TUBERCULATION IN CAST IRON PIPES: INDUSTRIAL VACUUM APPLICATIONS

Posted on August 19, 2024 - Case Study

Moline Public Works and Envirologics crew members set up a waterless Tomahawk cleaning system to clear tuberculation corrosion from a cast iron water main. This abrasive water pipe cleaning is an ongoing effort to ensure water mains are healthy and equipped. The water main lines are only successful if the tuberculation in the cast iron pipes is not present, but specifically if it is not present during certain seasons.

Moline’s water mains must withstand changes in temperature from 33 to 90 degrees F and, to transmit water from the lowest parts of the city, the initial water pressure of 110 psi is required to achieve a delivery pressure of 45 psi at the city’s highest elevations in the bluffs. While the system experiences an average of 35 water main breaks per year, the frigid weather of winter 2013 more than doubled that number.

Our industrial vacuum is being used to combat tuberculation in pipes. The oldest pipes in the distribution system are cast iron, the thinner cast-iron pipes manufactured and installed post-WWII gave us the greatest number of water main breaks.

Our line of industrial vacuums can assist with the removal of tuberculation corrosion built up in cast iron water mains. If your city is finding the job of removing tuberculation in cast iron water main pipes, you should contact us, and we will assist you in finding the industrial vacuum suitable for your needs.

If you want to read more on our part of Moline’s dry abrasive water pipe cleaning, continue to read on pages 18-22.

 

HOW TO PROTECT WORKERS WHEN REMOVING HAZARDOUS BUILDING MATERIALS

Posted on August 19, 2024 - Hazardous Cleanup

 

High-efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) equipped drum top vacuums are powerhouses when it comes to the removal and disposal of sensitive materials. Having the correct vacuum is one step, but the next step is protecting those using the fully equipped vacuum. This means individuals should be conscious of the sensitive materials that can be ingested by the drum top vacuum and should understand the safety precautions that need to be taken.

How Sensitive Materials Can Affect Workers 

Lead, mold, asbestos, vermiculite, and insulation removal are hazardous by-products of construction projects. If absorbed by the bloodstream, major organ systems may be damaged resulting in anemia. Workers could absorb and transport these hazardous dust putting those around them in danger of exposure.

If workers are exposed to concrete and silica dust, they can acquire silicosis which has no cure. Silicosis is caused when scar tissue forms decreasing the lungs ability to generate oxygen. Silicosis is applicable to multiple environments, including construction sites where drilling, shredding granite, concrete, sandstone, abrasive sand, etc. are present; foundry and fracking operating sites using sand; and, of course, when cutting into or busting up concrete.

When exposed to combustible dust, workers are more susceptible to nervous system, kidney, and blood damage. Combustible dust can be found in food and grain manufacturing and storage facilities, and many more.

Powder coating paint is only hazardous if workers make direct skin to skin contact, however if exposed occupational asthma and skin irritation/sensitivity may occur.

Hazardous waste leaves workers with the risk of radiation exposure. Power plants are examples of where hazardous waste can be found.

How Industrial Vacuums make the Disposal Process Smooth

The Vactagon drum top vacuums paired with drum liners can collect substances generated from lead, mold and asbestos, allowing for the bags to be taken away and disposed of by the workers, safely and effectively.

Special attachments are not always necessary for the cleanup process of hazardous waste. Powder coating paint, paint, sand blasting, plastering dust and drywall dust can be cleaned up using a portable Vactagon environmentally friendly vacuum and disposed of by the workers using the bags within the vacuum.

For jobs creating crystalline silica dust, utilizing a vacuum-assisted power tool with a portable Vactagon vacuum, the motion of the power tool will transport most of the dust directly into the vacuum. The excess may be clean up after the cutting, grinding, crushing or drilling is complete.

Foundry’s and Fracking operating sites creating copious amounts of sand is another example where a vacuum can be used to remove crystalline silica dust.

Combustible dust is hazardous for obvious reasons. Vactagon vacuums are equipped with explosion proof vacuums and grounded hoses to ensure no combustion when cleaning dust. By being bonded, grounded, fully conductive, and featuring TEFC motors there is zero contact with dust-laden air.

An example of combustible dust can be found in manufacturing and storage facilities where there is a risk of food and grain dust catching fire.

When working with construction dust, and wood working dust it is suggested to use a Vactagon filtered vacuum utilizing an inline drum filler or Cyclone separator.

Packaging waste must be suctioned up to combat waste buildup, to maximize efficiency for workers and systems, and to reduce risk of contamination to materials being packaged.

Hazardous waste is suctioned into the HEPA filter vacuum. Air output is filtered, returning only clean air, and internalizing harmful material.

Don’t believe the HEPA filter vacuum can take on metal dust shavings? Well it can. The movable vacuum provides immense power for suctioning even the toughest of materials.

Cyclone separator systems allows for dangerous contaminants, such as vermiculite and insulation to never touch workers during the transferring process. This process results in clean air and a clean environment for workers.

Vactagon Industrial HEPA Vacuums

Ranging from lead, mold and asbestos remediation, to foundry dust and sand, the HEPA drum vacs can collect a range of materials. If you want to ensure the safety of your workers check out our HEPA filter vacuums. Feel free to contact us if you have more questions or inquiries on our products.

DRUM TOP VACUUM FOR FOUNDRIES

Posted on August 19, 2024 - Drum Top Vacuums

Foundries are home to some of the most hazardous materials and working conditions. They operate in extremely high temperatures, due to the metal casting processes taking place. These metals, such as iron and steel, must reach a temperature around 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit (1,400 degrees Celsius). These conditions require heavy cleanup and power. Which is why our line of Vactagon Drum Top Industrial Vacuums are the perfect power source for dust-free disposal in foundries.

Our line of Vactagon Drum Top Vacuums is optionally equipped with a stage high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system. To remove crystalline silica dust properly, OSHA requires the use of a HEPA filter with your industrial vacuum system. This system allows the disposal process to be safe and efficient. In order to achieve this efficient cleanup and disposal, certain attachments are necessary. The additional attachments are:

  • Industrial shop vacuum – 100 CFM or more with garner the best results
  • HEPA filter – paired with a pre-filter or cyclonic separator (which removes large particles that would overload or clog the filter) will improve the efficiency and promote a healthy service for the costly HEPA filters.
  • Vacuum hose – when using 100 CFM will require a 1 ½ to 2-inch diameter hose. Avoid long hoses due to air flow resistance.
  • Dust collector attachment for power tools – should have an appropriate size collector for the power tool.

Each of these, paired with our Vactagon Drum Top Vacuum promote the safe disposal of crystalline silica dust. When using the portable industrial drum vacuum with the dust collecting power tool attachment, the power tools natural motion will feed most of the silica dust directly into the vacuum. This promotes a smaller cleanup once finished with the task at hand.

Why Foundries Need our Vactagon Vacuum’s

Foundry workers are in an at risk situation when they enter the foundry and begin melting and casting metal. Melting and casting metal is a delicate and dangerous process in itself, but an often ignored danger is crystalline silica dust formed from drilling, blasting, crushing, cutting, sawing, grinding or chipping objects. OSHA, for health reasons, does not permit foundries to sweep or blow the dust while cleaning up materials, but instead requires a more effective solution involving a HEPA vacuum.

The most detrimental health effect of breathing in crystalline silica dust is silicosis. There is no cure to silicosis which involves the formation of scar tissue in one’s lungs. Scar tissue in the lungs inhibits regular breathing patterns and can strengthen the risk for lung infections, such as tuberculosis. This risk can be quieted with our most portable line of industrial vacuums: the Vactagon Drum Top Vacuum. These vacuums allow workers to never encounter these hazardous materials directly by  vacuuming the silica dust and sand directly into proper bags. The only job left is to remove and replace these bags which, when done properly, requires no interaction with the substances themselves.

It’s Time to Purchase YOUR Vactagon Industrial Vacuum

Working in foundries is no simple task. Hazardous materials are floating around each and every day putting workers in at-risk situations. In order to combat these situations, it is important to stress a proper cleanup process and procedure. This process can be run smoothly with our line of Vactagon Industrial Vacuums. Check out our vacuums including the new self-cleaning Blowback Filter Cleaning System, and contact us regarding any questions or inquiries.

INVESTING IN INDUSTRIAL VACUUMS: DO I PURCHASE OR RENT?

Posted on August 7, 2024 - Industrial Vacuums

In the world of industrial cleaning, maintaining a spotless and debris-free environment is crucial for safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.  Here’s where industrial vacuums come in – powerful machines designed to tackle tough messes and hazardous materials. But when it comes to acquiring an industrial vacuum, a critical question arises: Should you purchase or rent? Here at Industrial Vacuum, we have industrial vacuums to either purchase or rent based on your needs. This blog post dives into the benefits of each and how we can help get the equipment you need.

Owning an Industrial Vacuum:

  • Long-Term Cost Savings: If you require frequent or regular industrial cleaning, purchasing an industrial vacuum can be a cost-effective solution in the long run. The upfront investment is recouped over time through avoided rental fees.
  • Customization and Control: Owning allows you to customize your industrial vacuum with specific attachments and filters to address your unique cleaning challenges. You’ll have complete control over its maintenance schedule and usage.
  • Always Available: With a purchased industrial vacuum on-site, you can tackle cleaning tasks as needed without waiting for rentals or scheduling deliveries. This ensures optimal efficiency and responsiveness to cleaning emergencies. You can get a quick quote from Industrial Vacuum online here. 

The Advantages of Renting an Industrial Vacuum:

  • Cost-Effectiveness for Short-Term Needs: For one-time projects, infrequent cleaning requirements, or budget constraints, renting an industrial vacuum can be a more economical option. You pay only for the time you need the equipment.
  • Variety and Flexibility: A wide range of industrial vacuums with diverse capabilities. You can rent the specific type and power needed for a particular cleaning job, ensuring optimal performance for the task at hand.
  • Reduced Maintenance Burden: Eliminates the burden of maintenance scheduling and associated costs for the renter.
  • Trying Before You Buy: Renting allows you to test out different industrial vacuums before committing to a purchase. This is a great way to evaluate performance, noise levels, and handling ease before investing in a specific model.

Industries That Benefit Most from Renting Industrial Vacuums:

Construction Sites: Construction projects often generate large amounts of debris specific to each phase. Renting an industrial vacuum allows contractors to match the vacuum’s capabilities to the cleaning task at hand, from dust control during demolition to heavy debris removal after framing.

Health Facilities: Restoration projects, like water damage remediation or fire restoration, require powerful vacuums for specific tasks like water extraction or debris removal. Renting allows restoration companies to have access to specialized equipment without the additional storage and maintenance costs. Check out our temporary dust removal application.

How Industrial Vacuum Can Help:

At Industrial Vacuum, we have a great selection of powerful industrial vacuums to rent or purchase. To learn more about what equipment will suit your needs, contact us. Check out more information about our industrial vacuums rentals or dust collector rentals today.