In an industrial production environment, there are many visible health risks that can be avoided when taking necessary precautions, such as taking preventative measures or using adequate safety equipment. However, certain aspects of industrial processes using metals can create an unsafe environment in ways that are often invisible or hard to see with the naked eye or can be very visible with a noticeable buildup of dust on work areas.
There has been a recent spate of industrial explosions due to airborne particulates that result from industrial production. In particular, metal grinding can create fumes and dust that will create a highly combustible environment given the right conditions and concentrations.
What Are The Health Risks From Metal Grinding?
When working with metals, the grinding, polishing, and buffing process can often create excess byproducts that can create major risks if they are not properly taken care of. The health risks from grinding metals includes:
- Inhalation Hazards: Dust and fumes can be inhaled by industrial workers which can cause a wealth of health problems that can often take years to become apparent. Dust in particular, such as that caused by aluminum grinding, can be inhaled and cause damage to internal organs at a nearly microscopic level.
- Fire/Explosion Risks: The aforementioned dust can create an explosion risk given the right conditions, such as when it is exposed to flames or sparks. These conditions can cause small fires at the best of times and full-scale explosions at the worst.
Take the Necessary Precautions
Because these health risks from grinding metals are potentially life-threatening, it is important to take the necessary precautions to prevent any damage to life and property. Wet collection equipment is fully equipped with features that are meant to handle all aspects of the industrial process that may potentially cause damage. This equipment works first by directing dust through the use of fans and then trapping the dust in water to create an easily disposable sludge. Using this equipment can reduce health risks from grinding dust and metals almost entirely.