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By Betty Walker


It is no secret that the process of sandblasting is necessary in the modern way of life. However, it is also not a secret that the process can be very dangerous not just to the workers but also to the environment. Thus, ways need to be found to ensure that the process is still used, but only in a safe way. For proper dry ice blasting New York offers a good place to visit.

So many different materials can be used in cleaning and gouging objects or surfaces in other forms of blasting. For example, steel grit, steel short, glass beads, nickel, silica sand and copper slag are used commonly. The materials may be put into categories as toxic and less toxic. Those that are less toxic include dry ice, baking soda, sponge, water and plastic bad media.

The selection of the materials to be used should be based on several factors. These factors include job specifications, cost of material, workers health and environmental factors. The abrasive media should be chosen to match the type of surface being cleaned. For example it is dangerous to use glass beads on wooden surfaces. Therefore, the selection of abrasive materials should be done with care. It is advisable to test the materials on small areas before they can be used on the rest of the surface.

Some of the toxic materials named above are associated with certain health problems that make them unsuitable for use. Silica sand for starters has been determined to cause breathing problems, lung cancer, and silicosis. Thus, many jurisdictions have made the use of silica sand illegal. Using it without a permit may be considered illegal in such jurisdictions.

There are other causes of lung damage such as garnet sand and coal slag. These types of abrasives have the same effect to the body as that of silica sand. The other abrasives which are associated with problems include glass beads, nickel slag and copper slag. All these are toxic abrasives with the exception of steel grit and steel shot, which do not damage the lungs.

Heavy machines are used when it comes to use of abrasive blasting. The machines are heavy and generate a lot of noise. Dangerous materials are also sometimes found on the surfaces being blasted. For example, they may have lead paint and silica. Due to those risks, it is advisable to undertake the process with a lot of care, that is, care must be taken before, during and after the activity.

Those materials that are less toxic are the ones that should be used. Also, abrasive materials that can be mixed with water and other types of liquids should be used since they do not produce dust. As mentioned above, dust is produced in large quantities during this process. Dust production occurs for the entire period the process is being done.

The room in which the process is taking place should be isolated to prevent the dust from getting out into the environment or reaching other workers or people. Curtain walls can be employed in such cases. If the operation is being done on a smaller scale, blast cabinets can be used to contain dust. Proper ventilation can also help reduce risks.




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