Abrasive Blasting Safety
At SurfacePrep UK, we have experts in various areas of surface preparation and surface finishing. Abrasive blasting is one area we specialise in as SurfacePrep UK and it’s important to make sure we educate those in the industry on health and safety that why we have put together our Top 5 Safety Tips – Blast Pot.
Abrasive blasting, that involves a blast pot, requires strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent accidents and injuries. It’s important to keep yourself and colleagues safe when abrasive blasting. It can be tempting to modify your equipment as you might think it will make your job easier. However, modification is a dangerous practice and can lead to severe injury to the blaster.
Top 5 Safety Tips
1 – Twin line
For safety the twin line to the blast pot should be used. These lines are critical for controlling the flow of air and abrasive material during blasting operations. Blasters have been known to link out the remote-control values which can lead to accidents on site. This should never be done. Having the twin line fitted will cut out the blast pot when the remote control on the Deadman’s handle is released. Twin lines ensure that the operator can quickly and safely control the blasting process. Releasing the Deadman’s handle instantly stops the blasting, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries.
2 – Safety Shut Off Valve
Blast pots have a safety shut off valve on the remote-control valve for when the blast pot is being filled with abrasive. These valves allow operators to quickly and effectively stop the flow of abrasive material and compressed air in case of an emergency or malfunction. The valve stops the blast pot being fired up and a operators fingers becoming jammed.
The use of an umbrella to cover the pop-up valve to stop the operator from putting their hands directly in contact with the pop-up valve. They provide a crucial means of quickly stopping the blasting process in emergencies, thereby protecting operators and equipment.
3 – Whip Checks
Whip checks, also known as safety cables, are safety devices used in abrasive blasting to prevent hose whip in case of a hose failure. The use of whip checks help to prevent injury to personnel and damage to equipment. When abrasive blasting it is critical for airlines to have safety whip checks. They work by being installed by looping one end of the whip check around the hose and the other end around a secure point on the equipment or another hose. When a hose fails, the whip check tightens and restricts the hose movement.
4 – Breathing Air Quality Filters
In shot blasting operations, breathing air quality filters are crucial for ensuring that the air supplied to workers is clean and safe to breathe. Operators need to have adequate breathing air filters and hoses to provide clean breathing air to safeguard the operator and allow fresh breathing air.
The filters must be inspected regularly to ensure they are functioning correctly and are not clogged or damaged. They should be replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations or whenever significant pressure drops are observed, indicating clogging. As well as replacement filters the testing of the air quality is essential to ensure compliance with safety standards. This involves sampling the air and analysing it for contaminants.
5 – PPE
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential in abrasive blasting to ensure the health and safety of workers. When abrasive blasting it is important to ensure that you have the correct PPE equipment. When blasting with a blast pot it is imperative to wear a helmet, gloves, blast suit and safety shoes. It is also important to do as much a you can to minimise risk to the operator from the abrasives being used and any contaminants.
Implementing Top 5 Safety Tips – Blast Pot can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries when using a blast pot for abrasive blasting. Proper PPE usage, regular equipment inspection and maintenance, safe work area setup, are essential for maintaining a safe and efficient blasting operation.
For more information about health and safety and the equipment used for abrasive blasting visit our find your solution page or call our team on 0114 254 0600.
To find out more about SurfacePrep visit our website.
