Robert Zuiderveld impressed us with the above rhyme during a recent combustible dust discussion on Linked In, but don’t be fooled by the poetic inspiration. Linked In’s Combustible Dust Policy Institute group is one of the most valuable combustible dust forums on the web. Aside from private consultants and combustible dust equipment suppliers (like us!), active members of the group include the people who’s voice really needs to be heard…manufacturers affected by combustible dust. Posts range from questions on best practices, to combustible dust statistics, to some healthy venting on government agencies and personal experiences. But in all cases, the conversation is honest, personal, and unfiltered.  So, if you haven’t already, join the discussion (Not a member of the professional networking site? Shame on you! Sign up…it’s worth it.)

Some things recently overheard in the combustible dust group:

• According to media accounts there were 100 combustible dust related fires and explosions in 2009. 17% of these  incidents were dust explosions with the majority of all incidents occurring in national industries (NAICS) not recognized in Appendix D-1 & D-2 of the OSHA Combustible Dust NEP.
• OSHA fines are like monopoly money. The large companies aren’t affected by them, because they can afford it.  The small companies aren’t affected by them because they will never be able to pay it.
• Looking for a suggestion on a violation pending with OSHA. We were cited on two dust collectors in our shop…this is not a good financial time.

The reason? Well, some companies, like PepsiCo have completed mergers, which make them a larger company than they were last year–$60 billion larger. But safety has also played a critical role. As FP mentions, noone wants to be the next Peanut Corp. of America, and extra meausures have been put in place to improve sanitation and cleanability. (Hello food processing vacuums!)

Along the lines of safety, but not mentioned in the article, is combustible dust. Imperial Sugar made combustible dust a very critical issue in the food industry and got every plant manager listening and wondering if their flour, whey powder, dried milk, cinnamon, peanut dust, etc., etc. was “combustible.” Not surprisingly, Imperial Sugar’s capital expenditures budget is way low this year (compared to previous years), since they’ve had to put their money towards rebuilding the Port Wentworth facility. So, noone wants to be next Imperial Sugar either, and are budgeting money to invest in the proper equipment like explosion proof vacuum cleaners, venting systems, etc.

Read the entire report here…

2010 Capital Spending Outlook: Pent-Up Demand Causes an Explosion in Projects
Dave Fusaro, Editor in Chief; After last year’s drop in capital expenditures, budgets for the Food Processing Top 100 survey group are up 19 percent for 2010.

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!

Details: 

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

When:  TODAY! Monday, May 24^th @ 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!

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:

• How does 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?

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

Question:
We are located in a town where a majority of the homes are pre- 1940. How do the new lead rules apply to home owners who do their own work?

Unfortunately, the rules do not apply to home owners doing their own work!  Also, the rule does not apply if the work is being done by volunteers.  The rule only applies if the work is being done for compensation. If volunteers are being supervised by a paid supervisor, the rule does apply.

Homeowners have no responsibilities under the new EPA RRP rules.  They can do their own work as they please, but are “encouraged” to follow lead safe practices.  If home owners are considering doing their own work, contractors can suggest they read Lead Paint Safety: A Field Guide for Painting, Home Maintenance, and Renovation Work.  This booklet published by HUD will make them aware of lead hazards and the risks they will take if they do their own work.  It also includes very thorough instructions, for working lead safe, specific to performing a variety of projects.  This booklet may help many homeowners realize they are getting in over their head and should hire a professional.  The booklet might also be a great resource for contractors trying to collect effective and innovative lead safe work practices. 

For more information on the lead RRP, check out http://www.nilfiskcfm.com/vacuum-applications/EPALeadRRP.aspx

From high-temperature cleaning nozzles, FDA-approved polymer-constructed hoses, overhead cleaning wands, to accessories for floors, equipment, pipes, corners, and other hard-to-clean areas in food processing plants, we have the vacuum cleaner accessory to match any outfit…I mean application.  And our line wouldn’t be complete without our popular color-coded vacuum cleaner nozzles, which allow the  user to easily match the right nozzle with the right application to prevent cross-contamination.  

Chances are, we have the right attachment for whatever you need to clean. If you’re looking to clean the plant floor, we offer tools for bare floors and carpeted floors; dry floors and wet floors; rough surfaces and delicate surfaces. Or, if you need to get into all the nooks and crannies at your plant, we offer specialized tools ranging from crevice nozzles to curved wands for overhead cleaning. It’s truly the largest product offering of its kind for the food processing industry.

And best of all, they never go out of style! For more information, visit www.foodprocessingvacuum.com

We recently produced the below state-of-the art video case study to showcase the success that Harris Woolf, a major US almond producer, has experienced since purchasing a Nilfisk CFM 137 industrial vacuum cleaner. Not only were they able to reduce the presence of almond dust, decrease costs, and offer a better product, Harris Woolf received superior recognition by AIB International, a prestigious honor sought by many food manufacturers.

When you get a moment, check it out. Because after all, not watching it would just be…nuts!

Equipped with the right hose and accessories, high-quality industrial vacuums are built to meet specific challenges like collecting crumbs in a hot oven or removing spider webs on overhead pipes, but despite all the advantages, many manufacturers still opt for the low cost alternative of shop-style vacuums. Take a walk-through any manufacturing plant and you’ll find dozens of these portable units scattered throughout the facility, stored in janitor closets or near machinery. They are to industrial plants what a household vacuum is to consumers, and while they may be a purchase of convenience, sold on the shelves of nearly every Home Depot, Sears, or Lowes, shop-style vacuums are by no means built for efficiency or reliability (go ahead, shake your head because you agree), and like mops, brooms and compressed air, ultimately cost more in the long run.

The most common problem with shop-style vacuums is frequent motor burn-up. Typically equipped with low-cost, unreliable motors that overheat quickly, these vacuums are normally short-lived, especially when used to collect fine dust and debris several times a day for a lengthy period of time. High-quality industrial vacuums are equipped with superior motors, specifically designed to handle longer run times and industrial applications.

Aside from motor burn-up, shop-style vacuums also do an inadequate job of retaining collected materials due to poor filtration. Quality industrial vacuums are equipped with oversized filters which allow the vacuum to filter more efficiently. The larger the filter, the more space there is to trap particles that would otherwise clog or “blind” the filter, reducing suction and performance.

Industrial vacuums also have graduated or multi-stage filtration systems. These systems require debris to pass through several steps of filtration, such as a paper bag, main cloth filter and/or HEPA, with each level acting as a barrier to the next. By the time the particles reach the last stage, the majority of debris has been trapped by previous filters. Shop-style vacuums are usually only equipped with single-stage filtration systems, allowing particles to pass through the motor and disperse back into the facility through the exhaust stream.

 Unlike most shop-style vacuums, i-vacs are also available with many different features that increase run time and help prolong the life of the vacuum, features like an automatic filter cleaning system, which frees the filter from caked on dust and debris before it can clog the filter and reduce vacuum suction. Industrial vacuums can also be customized for specific applications, such as machine integration or multiple users. 

Aside from contamination control and labor costs, mops, brooms, and compressed air do little in preventing a combustible dust explosion. In fact, shop-style vacuums can actually cause an explosion if used to collect hazardous materials. Although workplace blasts have been occurring for years, the issue became a national headline last year when the Imperial Sugar Factory near Savannah, GA went up in flames when finely ground motes of sugar combusted. If 14 fatalities weren’t enough, OSHA fined the company more than 8 million dollars in workplace safety violations. Blasts like these could be prevented if a certified Explosion-Proof Vacuum (EXP) is used consistently to clean the plant thoroughly. Certified by a nationally- recognized testing agency, these vacuums are tested from the ground up to insure they are safe to use in high-risk environments. An EXP might be priced higher than basic models, but the return on investment is immeasurable, saving not just money, but lives. 

Despite all the clear advantages, companies are still hesitant to invest the money in a quality industrial vacuum cleaner, thinking only of the short-term costs. But believe it or not, the investment can easily save you thousands in the first year alone.