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Working with Saffil Alumina Fibre
→Summary
of Precautions
→Advice
→Removal
and Disposal
Background
Saffil alumina fibre products are a potential source of fibrous
dust which may cause temporary irritation of the skin, eyes, throat
and nose. Caution is therefore recommended when working with the
material.
SAFFIL advises the use of adequate precautions such
as exhaust ventilation and, where necessary, suitable dust masks,
to ensure that individual exposure to Saffil fibre dust is minimised.
Please check your local and national exposure limits before working
with Saffil fibre products. In countries where there is no specific
national exposure limit. A maximum level of 2 respirable fibres/ml
and a maximum inhalable dust level of 5 mg/m3 is recommended.
A summary of precautions is given below. These precautions
should be observed when Saffil is being manufactured, processed,
converted or installed and are also applicable in many cases when
the fibre is being removed after service. Additionally, when Saffil
fibre is being removed after use and subsequently disposed of, the
information given on Removal and Disposal in this document should
be also studied.
Summary of Precautions
1. Always keep airborne dust levels to a minimum. Design all processes
to minimise dust release.
2. Assess the level of personal exposure (by measuring the airborne
fibre concentration using an approved method).
3. Where practicable, provide dust extraction at source.
4. Where appropriate, isolate working areas by partitions, screens
or curtains.
5. If the recommended exposure limit is exceeded, preferably as
a temporary measure, provide respiratory protective equipment (FFP2
minimum) and train operators to fit and use them properly.
6. Keep the workplace clean by use of a vacuum cleaner fitted with
a High Efficiency Particulate Air filter (HEPA).
7. Handle products gently. Do not throw on the floor.
8. Collect scrap near to its source into suitable containers or
strong bags. Seal and remove regularly.
9. Train operators in good and clean working habits.
10. Require operators to wear long-sleeved clothing, loose at the
neck and wrist, together with a headcover, eye protection and gloves
as appropriate.
11. Provide facilities for removal and storage of working clothes
and equipment.
12. Have work clothes laundered separately from ordinary clothing.
13. Instruct operators to wash all exposed skin areas after handling
fibre, first rinsing with water then washing gently with soap. Do
not use detergent.
14. Regularly inspect and maintain all engineering control and other
protective equipment.
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Advice
Minimisation of Dust
Saffil fibre is a relatively brittle, potentially dusty, material
and should be handled in such a way as to minimise dust release
into the atmosphere.
As a general principle any dust released should be promptly collected
at source. There are a wide variety of operations involving fibre
and some are intrinsically dusty. Where dust is created it is essential
to minimise its dispersion into the atmosphere through engineering
control such as dust extraction at the point of generation. Extraction
systems should be designed specifically for the particular operation
and must be maintained in good working order.
Unless more stringent local regulations exist the respirable airborne
fibre concentrations should be kept below 2 fibres/ml and total
dust below 5 mg/m3. This should be checked at least annually and
more frequently where there is cause for concern, eg if any process
change or new process is introduced or when sampling has not been
carried out previously, or where measurements have shown the value
to be greater than 50% of the specified limit. Experience with 'Saffil'
fibre has shown that the relatively coarse fibres do not remain
airborne for long periods so that generally the gravimetric standard
proves the more stringent.
Where there is no National standard Saffil recommends using the
gravimetric method (MDHS.14) or the phase contrast optical microscope
reference method (MDHS.59 or the equivalent German standard ZH1/120.31).
Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
Where it is not possible to maintain the fibre / dust concentration
in the atmosphere below the required limit by engineering controls
it is necessary to provide operators with Respiratory Protective
Equipment. Such equipment is available in a variety of types. Information
on the selection of such equipment is normally available in National
Standards, in guidance issued by Health and Safety Authorities and
from suppliers. Even when exposure limits are not exceeded the use
of an approved respirator (minimum FFP2 grade) can add to the comfort
of operators by reducing the transitory respiratory irritation experienced
by some people when working with fibre.
Cleaning of the Work Area
A major source of airborne dust is scrap and debris in the workplace.
Regular good housekeeping will eliminate much of this. A defined
housekeeping programme is essential for adequate dust control. It
should include planned systematic cleaning designed to provide a
safe, clean and orderly work environment. Cleaning of the workplace
should always be carried out by the use of a vacuum cleaner fitted
with a high efficiency particulate exhaust filter to prevent the
dust being blown back into the atmosphere. Where not possible clean
by wet sweeping. Dry brushing should not be used. Care must be taken
to ensure that dust is not released to atmosphere when emptying
waste bins, dust collectors or vacuum cleaners themselves, or in
the subsequent disposal of the dust. Waste should be transferred
to suitable impervious containers or bags of adequate strength and
disposed of regularly.
Note: Draughts or forced air heating and ventilating systems may
exaggerate any problem of dust if housekeeping is not satisfactory.
Segregation of the Work Area
In cases where it proves impossible to control the emission of dust
it may be necessary to segregate a particular operation from the
rest of the workplace. This is especially important where the dust
emitted can spread to other areas. Such segregation can range from
the temporary erection of screens or curtains around the working
area to a separate workroom with restricted entry, depending upon
the level of airborne dust created.
Training
All operators should be informed about health and safety aspects
related to the use of 'Saffil' fibres and trained for their safe
handling. Experience however has shown that different operators
carrying out the same process can create different amounts of dust
in doing so. Such bad habits as throwing scrap onto the floor instead
of placing it into a waste bin substantially add to the dust in
the atmosphere. Close observation of the procedures adopted by the
operator will readily reveal aspects which can be improved by training.
The operator must also be trained to make proper use of any equipment
provided.
Working Clothing
Working clothing should be long-sleeved and be loose at the neck
and wrists so that any fibres which may be lodged in these areas
are not rubbed into the skin. It is good practice to provide operators
with clothing specifically for use in their working area. This can
be in the form of disposable, lightweight overalls to wear over
normal clothing. As a further precaution gloves, head protection
and eye goggles or safety glasses should also be worn, as appropriate.
Any clothing referred to above should be removed when the operator
leaves the workplace and stored separately from normal clothing;
thus each worker should be provided with two lockers in an appropriate
changing area.
In all cases working clothing worn in fibre workplaces should be
laundered separately from personal clothes. Where heavy contamination
by fibre has occurred care should be taken to ensure that the equipment
used for laundering is itself thoroughly cleaned after use. Gloves,
hats, goggles and reusable masks should be cleaned after each use,
stored in a dust free area and replaced as appropriate.
Personal Hygiene
It has been mentioned that, in the case of some sensitive individuals,
fibre can cause skin irritation. This can be minimised by observing
the precautions described above but additionally operators should
be encouraged to wash exposed skin areas regularly. The skin should
first be rinsed with water and then washing carried out with soap
(not detergent). The skin should not be blown with compressed air
in an attempt to remove adhering fibres.
Appropriate washing facilities must be provided. Usually individuals
sensitive to this form of skin irritation acquire a degree of tolerance
after a few days of exposure. If this does not prove to be the case
and the condition persists despite these recommendations, consideration
must be given to transferring the individual to other work.
Maintenance
Regular inspection and maintenance of any dust control equipment,
whether of an engineering nature such as dust extractors, or of
a personal nature, such as RPE, is important and, in some countries,
is obligatory.
Additionally, the keeping of records of inspection and maintenance
of such equipment is good practice and, again, may be obligatory
in some cases.
Other Substances
Working with 'Saffil' fibre may involve other substances (eg other
fibres, binders) as additions to the fibre composition or as contaminants
arising from processes or fuels. In these circumstances the precautions
detailed in this Code of Practice should be reviewed in conjunction
with any which may be required for the other substance(s) and the
most stringent applied.
Smoking
It has been shown in studies with vitreous refractory ceramic fibres
(RCFs) that the combination of exposure to dust and smoking of cigarettes
slightly increases the likelihood of some respiratory symptoms such
as dry cough and breathlessness. No such symptoms have been shown
in non-smokers. Although 'Saffil' is a different fibre to RCF, it
is prudent to advise employees working with any chemicals to reduce
potential health risk in the workplace by stopping cigarette smoking.
Food and Drink
SAFFIL takes the view that food and drink should not be present
in a working environment where chemicals are stored or used. This
commonsense guideline also applies to workers involved with Saffil
fibre.
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REMOVAL
AND DISPOSAL OF SAFFIL FIBRE AFTER USE AT HIGH TEMPERATURES
If it is not possible to provide adequate
dust extraction during the removal process, workmen should be required
to wear as a minimum high efficiency respirators type FFP3. Depending
on the level of exposure powered respirators may be required for
some removal operations. Follow the recommendations regarding protective
clothing given in this document above and ensure that the precautions
listed in the Summary pages of this document are being carefully
observed.
Saffil fibre waste is not classified as a hazardous waste and may
generally be disposed of at a normal tipping site which has been
licensed for the disposal of industrial waste. Where Saffil fibre
waste has been contaminated by products which may be classified
as hazardous, expert guidance should be sought.
Unless wet, Saffil fibre waste is normally dusty and so should be
properly bagged, contained and sealed for disposal. At some tip
sites dusty wastes may be treated differently in order to ensure
that they are dealt with promptly and to avoid them being windblown.
Date: Jan 2001
For further information and assistance
regarding the safe handling of 'Saffil' fibre products, please contact
Saffil Ltd at the address below or alternatively your local office.
Saffil Ltd
Pilkington-Sullivan Site
Tanhouse Lane
Widnes
Cheshire
WA8 0RY
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)151 422 6700
Fax: +44 (0)151 422 6701
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