Posts Tagged ‘explosion proof vacuums’

Stay Safe! In and Out of Work!

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

It’s National Safety Month! Yes, safety is ALWAYS important,  but during the month of June the National Safety Council (NSC), which sponsors the initiative, is putting in extra effort to remind people to live and work safely. The organization  has identified weekly safety-themes and is encouraging companies to spend some time this month focusing on safe practices in the workplace.  You can see the full list of weekly themes as well as posters, tip sheets and other materials you can use for your own safety events here.

Many of the topics chosen by the NSC for this year’s National Safety Month are not necessarily related to workplace safety. They are topics like teen driving, prescription overdose prevention, summer safety, etc.

And as Christie (blogger on Online Safety Community), points out, out-of work safety is also important, which even we tend to forget (as an industrial manufacturer). But after all, if your employees aren’t safe outside of work, their unsafe habits can easily be brought into the workplace through sickness, lack of sleep, or just plain bad decisions that impair abilities.

“Encouraging your employees not only to be safe at work, but at home too, is great way to help ensure you have happy, healthy employees in the workplace each day.”

Source: Online Safety Community, http://www.safetycommunity.com/profiles/blogs/june-is-national-safety-month-2

Stay safe with Industrial Vacuum Cleaners!

- A clean plant makes clean air, which equals healthy employees (no silicosis)…and better products for happy customers!

- Industrial vacuums can easily and efficiently minimize dust accumulations on overhead pipes, machinery, etc. to reduce the risk of combustible dust fires and explosions

- Integrated into food processing lines, industrial vacuums prevent cross-contamination of bacteria and allergens (ultimately keeping the end-user safe).

-Reduce falls by vacuuming up dust and debris on walking working surfaces

- Industrial vacuums are user-friendly and way more efficient than brooms, etc.  Not only can employees clean faster, they also can eliminate injuries caused by repetitious movements.

- Reduce occurrence of lead poisoning (and meet the Lead RRP) by using a HEPA filter vacuum when renovating homes or schools built before 1978!

Want to know more about industrial vacuums and safety, visist www.nilfiskcfm.com or call us!

Come to our combustible dust event TODAY at AIHCE!

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Just a final reminder that  TODAY is our special event at the AIHA conference (AIHCE), “Clearing the Air: Preventing Combustible Dust Hazards with the Proper Cleaning Equipment!”  Hope to see you there!  Walks-ups welcome!

Details: 

What:  “Clearing the Air: Preventing Combustible Dust Hazards with the Proper Cleaning Equipment”

When:  TODAY! Monday, May 24th @ 2:30pm

Doors open at 2:20pm

Where: Hyatt Regency Denver (across the street from the convention center)

                Centennial C, Level 3

Details: Combustible dust-related fires and explosions are a constant threat for manufacturers. In fact, OSHA estimates that in the U.S. alone, over 30,000 facilities are at risk for major combustible dust explosions. While these incidents are not 100% preventable, they are certainly not inevitable. You can significantly reduce the risk of a combustible dust accident by instilling best engineering practices — practices that include a solid maintenance plan in order to reduce or eliminate dangerous dust that settles on floors, walls, machinery, and overhead areas.

This event will provide attendees with a basic understanding of combustible dust issues and discuss critical housekeeping tips and recommendations. We’ll answer your questions:

  • How OSHA define combustible dust?
  • How does the OSHA Combustible Dust NEP pertain to maintenance?
  • Why is proper maintenance so critical?
  • What are “properly-equipped” industrial vacuums to combat combustible dust?
  • Are “explosion-proof” vacuums always necessary? 

P.S. Refreshments will be served!

Going to AIHCE? Come to our combustible dust event!

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Are you attending AIHCE next week in Denver???

What: Clearing the Air: Preventing Combustible Dust Hazards with Proper Cleaning Equipment

When: Monday, May 24, 2010; 2:30 – 4:00pm CDT

Where: American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHce)Hyatt Regency Denver Convention Center (Centennial C) across the street from AIHCE.

Sign-up: http://ohsonline.com/nilfisk

Combustible dust-related fires and explosions are a constant threat for manufacturers. In fact OSHA estimates that in the U.S. alone, over 30,000 facilities are at risk for major combustible dust explosions. While these incidents are not 100% preventable, they are certainly not inevitable. You can significantly reduce the risk of a combustible dust accident by instilling best engineering practices — practices that include a solid maintenance plan in order to reduce or eliminate dangerous dust that settles on floors, walls, machinery, and overhead areas.

This event will provide attendees with a basic understanding of combustible dust issues and discuss critical housekeeping tips and recommendations. We’ll answer your questions:

  • How OSHA define combustible dust?
  • How does the OSHA Combustible Dust NEP pertain to maintenance?
  • Why is proper maintenance so critical?
  • What are “properly-equipped” industrial vacuums to combat combustible dust?
  • Are “explosion-proof” vacuums always necessary? (more…)

Clearing the Air! We’re holding a special combustible dust event!

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Planning on attending AIHCE at the end of the month in Denver, CO?  If so, we hope you’ll sign up to attend our special event, Clearing the Air: Preventing Combustible Hazards with the Proper Cleaning Equipment. This FREE event event will take place on Monday, May 24th at 2:30pm, across the street at the Hyatt Regency, Denver.  

The event will provide attendees with a basic understanding of combustible dust issues and discuss critical housekeeping tips and recommendations. We’ll answer your questions:

To sign-up, click here: http://ohsonline.com/nilfisk. Limited seats available!

Combustible Dust Focus Site: www.explosionproof-vacuum.com

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Have you visited our combustible dust focus site (www.explosionproof-vacuum.com) yet? 

Even though the industrial sector is now very aware of the risks of combustible dust, we know you still have a  lot of questions. Many of you  still aren’t sure if the material in your plant  is considered “explosive” or if your equipment meets OSHA recommendationswww.explosionproof-vacuum.com strives to answer some of these questions (How do I know if my dust is combustible? Do I really need an explosion-proof vacuum cleaner?). It’s a one stop site to learn about the combustible dust issue and best maintenance practices!

Up In Smoke: Combustible Dust Fires in Manufacturing Facilities

Monday, February 8th, 2010

By now, most manufacturers are familiar with the story of combustible dust. They’ve read about it in the newspaper, “Googled” it online, watched it on CBS’s “60 Minutes” special1, or received a letter from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration informing them their facility is considered high risk for a combustible dust explosion. They have a solid picture in their minds of what an industrial explosion scene looks like: the remnants of a facility, a gaping hole, a collapsed roof, workers covered in soot and blood. It’s like a well-craft ed movie scene, except it’s real. (more…)

When the Dust Settles: Combustible Dust/Housekeeping Webinar!

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Our first webinar! Yesterday our Product Manager, Corry Luckenbach and Senior District Manager, Ray McCarthy presented a webinar on combustible dust and industrial vacuums. The online seminar (hosted by Occupational Health & Safety magazine) was a big hit, providing educational information regarding proper housekeeping and how to choose the right vacuum for your combustible dust challenges. If you couldn’t attend the live webinar, we hope you’ll check out the recorded version here http://ohsonline.com/webcasts/2009/09/a-guide-to-the-prevention-of-combustible-dust-hazards-through-the-use-of-proper-cleaning-equipment.aspx

Enjoy! And of course, if you have any questions, please shoot us an email at questions@nilfisk-advance.com or visit www.explosionproof-vacuum.com

From the Industrial Fire Journal’s ComDust Blog

Friday, October 30th, 2009

http://www.hemmingfire.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/640/The_importance_of_explosion_proof_vacuums.html

Nilfisk CFM looks at the importance of utilizing explosion proof vacuums when cleaning up combustible dust in the workplace

When the Dust Settles: A Tutorial on Explosion-proof Vacuums

A comprehensive maintenance plan is a solid first step in preventing a combustible dust-related fire or explosion and can greatly minimize the tragic effects of a secondary blast. By letting dust accumulate on surfaces, facilities are literally adding fuel to the fire and efforts should be taken to insure that dust deposits greater than 1/32”, the thickness of a paperclip, are promptly removed, according to OSHA’s Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program. While mops and brooms have their place in industrial facilities, the process is time consuming and often creates dust clouds, adding to the risk. They also are very limited in what they can clean. A properly-equipped, HEPA-filtered industrial vacuum cleaner suitable for collecting combustible dust, can get the job done in half the time and be used to remove dust from machinery, floors, walls, and overhead pipes and vents. (more…)

Are you at risk for a combustible dust explosion?

Friday, May 1st, 2009

After decades of work-place explosions leading to hundreds of injuries and fatalities, combustible dust is finally a national headline that OSHA cannot ignore. While there are still no laws regarding combustible dust procedures, the agency has made quite a bit of headway in outlining recommendations for prevention and conducting random audits of “at-risk” facilities. By now, if you are a plant manager that handles dry bulk solids, you should be bulking up your maintenance plan which may include an industrial vacuum purchase–but did you know that using the wrong vacuum can actually add to the risk of a combustible dust explosion? (more…)

60 Minutes: The Danger of Combustible Dust

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

60 Minutes: Combustible Dust

One of America’s most trusted news sources, 60 Minutes (CBS), recently reported on the deaths and property damage caused by dust explosions at American factories, a problem that potentially exists in over 30,000 plants…