The management of dust in transfer stations and material recovery facilities (MRFs) is crucial due to health, regulatory, and safety concerns. Fugitive dust can lead to fines, citations, and even fires if uncontrolled. In addition to these issues, insurance companies are becoming increasingly aware of the fire hazards of combustible dust, adding to the liability associated with poor dust management.
One of the primary dangers of fugitive dust is its potential to fuel fires. An overly dusty MRF is a fire hazard, especially when combined with other potential ignition sources, such as damaged lithium-ion batteries. Excessive dust provides additional fuel for fires, making controlling dust in waste and recycling facilities an essential part of your environmental health and safety efforts.
Not All Dust is Created Equal
Due to the variety of dust in facilities like waste and recycling centers, you must also be prepared for combustible dust. The risk for this dust type is more than just fuel; it is, in and of itself, a combustion source.
Dust control is not only about compliance but also about protecting employees’ health. Workers in transfer stations and MRFs can inhale suspended dust particles as materials are moved and processed, posing health risks. The people you rely on to run your facility, rely on you to maintain a safe environment for them to work, including being safe from a combustible dust event.
Dangers of Dust
(Excerpt from “Clearing the Air,” by Bob Gaetjens, Waste Today, Jul-Aug 2023)
If left uncontrolled, dust can result in fines and citations from OSHA, but Jordan Newton, P.E., Chief Operating Officer at SonicAire says the real danger is to employees’ health and the overall facility.
He says one primary danger associated with dust is the risk of fires and explosions. If too much dust accumulates on surfaces within a facility or is suspended in the air, it can fuel either one, depending on the environment.
Newton says an overly dusty MRF lacks only an ignition source for a fire. “You’ve got fuel from the dust; you’ve got suspension from the dust; you’ve got confinement, generally, if you’ve got four walls; and there’s oxygen in the air.”
Usually, he says, excessive dust provides additional fuel to a fire started from another source, which can sometimes be damaged lithium-ion batteries.
The associated liability increases as understanding of the dangers that combustible dust presents increases.”Insurance companies are becoming more and more aware of the fire hazards and risks around combustible dust,” Newton says.
Dust also can become a health hazard if it’s suspended in the air and inhaled by employees, which he says is possible in transfer stations and MRFs as material is moved and processed.
Several strategies and equipment can be used to control dust and odor in facilities, with two of the most popular approaches being misters and fans. SonicAire’s dust control fans are designed to prevent fugitive dust that has escaped other collection methods from settling in hard-to-reach areas within a facility, creating air barriers that force dust back to the ground, making it easier to collect.
These fans effectively manage all types of dust and do not face challenges like water or moisture-based systems, which can require continuous water supply and pose issues like equipment rusting.
Alternative solutions, such as vacuum systems, are cyclic in that vacuuming must be done over and over; start on one end of your facility and by the time you finish, it’s time to start back where you began. They also pose a serious risk if done DIY-style. You can ignite the dust in the vacuum with the wrong equipment and cause an explosion.
Manual cleaning, another popular option, can be costly, labor-intensive, and inconsistent due to workforce turnover. With labor shortages, facilities that rely on manual cleaning may need help finding and retaining employees to conduct these manual cleanings. You may have trouble finding a cleaning company that can fit you into their schedule when you need it due to their difficulties finding and retaining staff.
The manual method may be short-sighted, as this solution requires consistent execution, whereas dust control fans require very little thought or maintenance after installation.
Once you have your SonicAire fans installed, Dust is Done.
Ultimately, the Waste Today article claimed that the choice of a dust control system depends on the facility’s design and priorities. However, systematic dust control is essential for employee happiness, safety, compliance, and overall facility cleanliness.
For more information, click below to read the full article.
Other Posts You May Benefit from Reading
- NFPA 652 Dust Hazard Analysis Deadline Approaches: Is Your Company Compliant?
- Could Industrial Dust Control Fans Save You Millions?
- Dust Control Fans & Dust Collection Systems: Teamwork
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The Real Cost of Fugitive Dust in Hard-to-Reach Spaces
What You Can’t See Can Hurt You
To help protect your workplace, we’ve compiled the following resource, The Real Cost of Fugitive Dust in Hard-to-Reach Spaces: What You Can’t See Can Hurt You. In it, we identify seven ways fugitive dust is likely impacting your facility and its profitability.
These costs go beyond housekeeping and explain why you should be preventing dust buildup to protect the bottom line, not just to stay in compliance.