The Risks and Regulations You Need to Know
Dust may seem like a minor inconvenience, but it can actually pose serious risks to your waste management facility, employees, and the environment. If left uncontrolled, dust can cause explosions, damage equipment, and compromise the quality of your material or product. Worse still, it can harm your employees’ health, potentially leading to respiratory diseases and even cancer.
To avoid these risks, it’s important to comply with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which sets limits on emissions to the atmosphere. Your dust control systems should also meet ATEX 2014/34/EU regulations, and be designed in accordance with HSG258, COSHH 2002 Regulations, and Workplace Exposure Limits EH40 (UK Regulations).
To control dust at its source, consider investing in a central dust control system with dust capture hoods on tipping bays, conveyor junctions, and shredders. You should also take into account the type and quantity of dust generated, as well as the position of equipment when designing your dust management system. In addition, spark detection systems can be used to detect potential ignition sources and prevent fires and explosions.
The Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) notes that dust control is often underestimated, and a mere 1mm layer of dust, if disturbed, can generate a dust cloud that’s enough to cause a fire or explosion hazard. Investing in a well-designed dust control system can prevent damage to your equipment, reduce maintenance requirements and downtime, and ultimately protect your employees’ health and safety.
If you need assistance with designing and implementing a dust control system for your waste management facility, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our qualified installation engineers can help ensure compliance with regulations and keep your operations safe and efficient.