We know you. You’re one of the guys in that great American photograph on the iron beam eating his lunch–or at least, you’re his spiritual successor. You helped build this country, helped to forge it out of metal and granite and stone–and now you own a company where others work to do the same.
We congratulate you. But we also caution you. The business you’re in comes with a lot of occupational hazards, and one of the greatest day to day hazards you and your company faces is metallic dust. If you or your employees do a lot of welding or sanding in close quarters, then it is absolutely essential that you invest in a downdraft table with a built in aluminum dust collector and a fume extraction system. Downdraft tables with these sorts of dust collection systems can help protect you and your workers from the following risks:
1. Silicosis
Silicosis is an acute disease of the lungs caused by breathing in microscopic mineral particles, and it’s perhaps the biggest risk to workers in your industry. Since 1968, over 14,000 workers have died from this disease, and today 1 million remain at risk. What’s more, silicosis is a swift killer. A person can develop the disease after only a few weeks of exposure to industrial dust of the kind commonly created during a construction project. However, if you invest in some sort of aluminum dust collector or vacuum system, the risk of silicosis goes down exponentially.
2. Fire
In addition to being hard on the lungs, industrial dust is also extremely flammable. According to a governmental study done by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard board, there have been nearly 200 industrial fires caused by combustable airborne particles in the last 25 years, resulting in the deaths of 119 employees. A good vacuum system, down draft table, and/or an aluminum dust collector can help you avoid a fire that will cost a whole lot of lives and a whole lot of money. Which brings us to the third risk…
3. Legal Non-Compliance
Since 2010, OSHA, the governmental organization that deals with employee rights and safety regulations, has strengthened its rules in regards to industrial dust. Getting a good dust collection system can save you fines, legal fees, and sanctions down the road in the event of a random inspection.
We want you to keep building. We need you! But we need you for longer and healthier than the by-products of your industry would allow unchecked. So invest in your own safety and the future of this country, and clear the air. Literally.
