Controlling The Dangers Of Compressed Air

 Controlling The Dangers Of Compressed Air

Summary:

• There are two safety issues with the use of compressed air. (Flying objects and the air itself) Horseplay has been a cause of some serious industrial accidents caused by people unaware of the dangers of compressed air. Some television programmes have shown bad examples of the use of compressed air.

Article body:

• There are two safety issues when using pressurised air. (Flying objects and the air itself) Horseplay has been a cause of some serious industrial accidents caused by people unaware of the dangers of compressed air. Some television programmes have shown bad examples of the use of compressed air.

• Compressed air is extremely powerful. Depending on the pressure, compressed air can release particles. These particles pose a danger as they can get into the eyes or possibly onto the skin. The potential damage depends on the size, weight, shape, composition and speed of the particles. There are also reports of hearing damage caused by the pressure of the compressed air and the noise made by the nozzle.

• Compressed air itself also poses a serious risk. In rare cases, some of the compressed air can enter the bloodstream through a tear in the skin or through an opening in the body. An air bubble in the bloodstream is medically referred to as an embolism, a dangerous medical condition in which a blood vessel becomes blocked, in this case by an air bubble. An embolism in an artery can lead to coma, paralysis or death. While air embolisms are usually associated with improper diving procedures, they are possible with compressed air due to the high pressure. The consequences of even a small amount of air or other gases in the blood can quickly become fatal.

• Although many people know that using compressed air to clean waste or clothing can be dangerous, it is still used in many workplaces due to old habits and the easy availability of compressed air. Cleaning objects, machines, workbenches, clothing and other things with compressed air is dangerous. The air jet and airborne particles can cause injury.

• If compressed air cleaning is unavoidable, the hazards can be reduced. Use the lowest air pressure that is still effective for the task at hand. A "quiet" nozzle should be selected. Personal protective equipment must be worn to protect the worker's body, especially the eyes, from particles and dust under pressure. When using compressed air guns, there should also be local exhaust ventilation or a device to control the formation of particles in the air. The use of chip guards can deflect flying dust or debris, extension tubes give the worker a safer working distance, or even compressed air guns equipped with injection extractors and particle collection bags are other options to consider when it comes to compressed air safety.