Working safely with compressed air
Published: 13 July, 2021
Roy Brooks, technical development officer for the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) outlines some of the latest advice in working safely with compressed air.
Take the pressure: One of the common challenges that many health and safety managers face is that users can become complacent and overlook the fact most compressed air is pressurised to at least six times atmospheric pressure – and it is this pressurised energy that can create a hazard if not managed properly. In addition, the noise created by unsilenced compressed air when exhausting to the atmosphere also needs careful consideration to ensure it remains with legal limits.
Avoid contact: While health and safety practices continue to improve continually and employees understand their obligations to creating a safe working environment, intentional or accidental misuse of compressed air can occur. Compressed air injection into the body at any pressure can cause serious injury, or even death, so it is always worth reminding users not to use compressed air to clean off dust or debris from their clothing or skin and to avoid dislodging debris that could cause bodily harm.
Joint responsibility: The Health and Safety at Work act states that an employee must take reasonable care and follow all procedures laid down by his/her employer to create a safe working environment for everyone. To ensure this is achieved, every employee, through the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations should receive training in order to use compressed air equipment in the correct manner.
Additionally, it is important that the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided to all using compressed air tools, that it is worn correctly and fits properly. Depending on the application, this can include safety goggles/glasses, ear defenders, gloves and face masks.
Equipment types and hazards: There is a wide range of handheld pneumatic equipment, and each type has its own associated hazards. These fall into two groups; where the compressed air drives a motor, e.g., grinders, sanders, nut runners or where the compressed air is used directly through a nozzle, e.g., blow guns, spray guns. These air powered tools give rise to several hazards requiring various items of personal protective equipment to be worn to help protect from noise and vibration, sparks and dust. Sometimes, the connection between the hose and tool or the hose clamp can become loose, through wear of tampering. Attention should also be paid to quick-release couplings, which may not be pushed home properly or have worked loose through wear, To help mitigate against this risk, users should check both the hose itself and its connection with the tool for signs of wear and tear before use.
Blow gun safety: The end of a blow gun must never be blocked, nor pointed at anyone and should not be used for general cleaning purposes, such as cleaning clothing, especially while being worn, or benches. Vacuum cleaning is a far safer option. One way to help minimise the risk of injury is to only use blow guns which have some form of safety feature, either a safety-pattern nozzle or a safety mechanism which cuts in if the nozzle becomes blocked. If the blow gun does not have a built-in safety feature, then reduce the pressure to 2 bar or 30 PSI gauge pressure, and ensure that safety goggles or glasses are always worn.
BCAS training: BCAS offers a dedicated ‘Working Safely with Compressed Air’ course via its new e-learning portal. The course covers the employer’s and employee’s responsibility for safety in the workplace and outlines why air users must know how to work safely and understand the risks involved if good practice is not followed. For further information about the full range of BCAS training courses on offer, including classroom-based training, please visit the e-learning portal at: https://e-learning.bcas.org.uk
Understanding PSSR 2000 & Written Scheme
The British Compressed Air Society is also urging the industry to ensure that all employees that are responsible for maintaining compressed air systems are fully trained on the requirements of the Pressure Systems’ Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR), and in particular, the importance of the written scheme of examination.
If pressure equipment fails during operation, it can seriously injure or even kill people nearby and cause damage to property, which is why the Society is now offering a 25% discount on its popular ‘Certificate in Understanding the Pressure Systems’ Safety Regulations’ training course to customers of BCAS members only (excluding trade). Please visit: https://www.bcas.org.uk/training/understanding-pssr-2000-and-written-schemes.aspx The blended learning workshop, one of a number of specialist training courses in the Society’s portfolio, covers the written scheme of examination in relation to compressed air systems. It provides knowledge of the Pressure Systems’ Safety Regulations (S.I 2000 No 128), related standards and codes of practice and is designed to provide the understanding required as a user, manager, or provider of written schemes of examination.
According to the latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive, although reportable workplace accidents in manufacturing continue on a downward trend, there were still 15 fatal accidents in 2019-20, with 13% of these as a result of exposure to an explosion. As a result, the HSE states that ‘everybody operating, installing, maintaining, repairing, inspecting and testing pressure equipment should have the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their job safely’, meaning suitable training is essential. In particular, a written scheme of examination is required for most pressure systems, which should be drawn up (or certified as suitable) by a competent person – and the system should not be operated or hired out until the scheme is in place and the system fully examined.
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