Why use aluminum?

Aluminum has long been used in everything from kitchen gadgets and window frames to beer kegs and airplane parts. Aluminum is easily worked and has a high strength to weight ratio making it perfect for transport. Its corrosion resistance makes it cheaper to produce because it doesn’t need a layer of expensive anti-corrosive coatings applied. However, there are potential health risks from prolonged exposure to the dust generated from grinding and sanding aluminum. It can be dangerous to sand aluminum without proper protection.

Aluminum Dust Can Cause Lung and Nervous System Problems

Keeping the workplace safe for the cutting, grinding and finishing aluminum can be a challenge. According to Scott Larson, 3M’s personal safety division’s technical service manager, aluminum dust poses a breathing concern as it is very light and floats in the air longer than most metal dust. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ASDR) states that exposure to aluminum is usually not harmful, but exposure to high levels can affect your health. Workers who breathe large amounts of aluminum dusts can have lung problems, such as coughing or abnormal chest X-rays. Some workers who breathe aluminum dusts or aluminum fumes have decreased performance in some tests that measure functions of the nervous system.

There have also been studies that show that exposure to high levels of aluminum may develop Alzheimer's disease, but other studies have not found this to be true. There still is no conclusive evidence for this theory.

In order to keep the workplace health risks down, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set a legal limit of 15 mg/m3 (total dust) and 5 mg/m3 (respirable fraction) aluminum in dusts averaged over an 8-hour workday. According to ATSDR, most people take in very little aluminum from breathing. Levels of aluminum in the air generally range from 0.005 to 0.18mg/m3 depending on location, weather conditions, and type and level of industrial activity in the area. Most of the aluminum in the air is in the form of small suspended particles of soil (dust)

Aluminum Dust is explosive

According to the Aluminum Association, finer particles of aluminum burn readily when their ignition point is reached and tend to ignite the coarser particles as well. 3M’s Larson further stated that Aluminum dust has a much higher combustion rate than most metal dust, and fine amounts of powdered aluminum-magnesium alloy are subject to explosions—especially when they come in contact with steel such as in automobile manufacturing.

Keeping the Workplace Safe

One of the most important safety measures to add to your hazardous dust control program is to implement the appropriate dust collection system and filter. The Dynabrade Raptor portable vacuum systems offer a number of options that meet or exceed safety requirements.

Keeping Workers Safe

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to keeping workers safe. Listed below are PPE recommendations from the Aluminum Association:

• Respiratory protection - dust mask filter
• Hand protection - leather gloves with long cuffs
• Head / face protection - helmet with mesh for protection against heat or flames
• Work wear - fire-retardant special fabric, trousers without turn-ups and closed pockets.
• Foot protection - safety shoes

Workplace safety is a combined effort between employers and employees and BlackHawk Industrial is committed to working with our customers to help keep workers safe. Our trained professionals are happy to help you with any of your questions. We welcome you to contact us here:  https://www.bhid.com/ContactUs or call us TOLL FREE at (855) 610-1001.