Any business which manufactures wooden products or works with wood will use machinery to help. Woodworking machinery not only delivers outstanding results but also saves time. One thing that all will have to deal with, though, is the dust which is produced. By far the best way to do this is using dust extraction machines on your premises. These handy machines help to collect any waste dust from woodwork equipment and also stop it from simply going into the air.
But why is using machines like this for dust extraction so important?
What are the dangers of dust?
Dust can be dangerous for a number of reasons. When it accumulates in large quantities it can be highly flammable and can cause accidental fires in the workplace. Dust can also be dangerous when your employees breathe it in. The dust may be hazardous because it is irritating to the lungs or because the particles are sharp, but breathing in dust is always dangerous.
Fires and explosions
Dust is highly combustible because of its composition. There is a large surface area that can ignite and there is a lot of oxygen in a pile of dust too. This means that a build-up of dust can quickly ignite with even just a small source of heat. When dust is airborne, it can also cause a risk of explosions in certain conditions. Explosions can occur where there is dust that is airborne because fuel and oxygen are in abundant supply to accelerate the fire. A small source of ignition can turn a dusty workplace into an explosion very quickly.
Breathing in dust
The body has a range of defences to deal with the dust that we breathe in, but when you are breathing in large amounts of dust it is difficult for the body to cope and the dust will begin to penetrate into the lungs. Dust can cause scar tissue in the lungs which prevents them from passing oxygen into the blood and makes breathing more difficult. Dust may also cause cancers to form in the lungs, so breathing them in exposes you to an unacceptable risk.
Preventing dusty workplaces from developing
The best protection against dust is not to wear a mask; instead it is to prevent the workplace from becoming dusty in the first place. Installing appropriate dust extraction machines in your workplace is essential so that you can avoid the risks presented by dust. A dusty workplace is a dangerous workplace because dust can cause fires, explosions and lung conditions when it is inhaled. To protect yourself and your employees you must install appropriate dust extraction machines.
Efficiency and safety of machines
One of the major reasons to use proper dust extraction equipment lies in making sure your woodworking machinery works as intended. With no proper system for dust extraction in place, waste material and dust will build up inside your machinery over time. This can seriously hamper its performance and stop it from working to its maximum capability.
This is not a good situation to be in as it will then not produce the desired results. If parts of the machinery get clogged with dust or waste material, it may even stop working altogether!
Safety
In terms of workshop machinery, dust extraction is also key for safety reasons. If your machines become clogged with dust, then the parts inside could become worn or damaged by it over time. This could lead to parts breaking when machines are in use with potentially disastrous consequences.
Workers may not only lose control of a machine in an event like this but sections of any damaged part could come flying out of the machine also. This naturally presents a significant safety risk to whoever is using the equipment and anyone else in the vicinity. Of course, this could also damage the machine itself to a point where it is not repairable.
Air quality
Another key reason to use dust extraction machines is the working environment you have. Health and safety rules mean you must do what you can to provide a safe place for people to work in. This is certainly not the case if no plans are in place to remove dust from the air.
We all know that working on wood throws off lots of dust and you do not want this simply going into the general environment and reducing the air quality. Using a dust extraction machine avoids this from happening and means that the air quality in your workshop is not compromised.
Top-quality dust extraction machines to buy
Here at Calderbrook Woodworking Machinery Ltd, we have the best dust extraction machines around to purchase. All are manufactured to the highest standards and come packed with features to remove unwanted dust from woodwork machines and the air. Browse the website or get in touch today for more details.
Visit our Dust Extraction Machine page to order yours today!
