To prevent accidental injury when working with compressed air, here are several precautions to follow: A compressed-air tool operator must wear eye protection and other appropriate personal protective equipment.
- NEVER POINT IT AT YOURSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON! ...
- NEVER USE IT TO CLEAN CLOTHING OR HAIR! ...
- ALWAYS FOLLOW PRESSURE RATINGS AND LIMITATIONS! ...
- ALWAYS CHECK THE CONDITION OF HOSES AND LINES BEFORE USE! ...
- ALWAYS WEAR PROPER PPE! ...
- ALWAYS WEAR PROPER PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.
What are the safety guidelines for compressed air?
Top 12 Compressed Air Safety Guidelines 1. Never apply compressed air to the skin or direct it at a person. Even air at a pressure of 15 psig can cause serious injury. Never use a compressed air hose to clean dirt or dust from your clothing or body.
How do I troubleshoot my compressed air equipment?
Follow these compressed air safety tips when troubleshooting your equipment: Shut down your compressor: Turn off your compressor, disconnect it from power and bleed any remaining air pressure before doing any troubleshooting or repair work.
What should I wear to work if I have pressurized air?
ALWAYS WEAR PROPER PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. Normal work clothing is not sufficient protection against pressurized air. NEVER USE IT TO CLEAN WORKSPACES OR EQUIPMENT UNLESS NECESSARY!
Do you have an air compressor safety checklist?
Before using a compressor, you need to check various components to make sure the machine will work properly. To keep track of any issues and ensure you’ve looked at all the necessary areas, create an air compressor safety checklist for your operators to complete before each job. Some of the elements you may want to look at include:
What is the most important to be considered when working with compressed air?
Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the task. Safety glasses are always required when using compressed air or pneumatic tools, and face guards or shields and hearing protection are required with some impact tools. Gloves and steel-toed shoes may also be required.
What type of PPE do you need while using compressed air?
Personal protective equipment appropriate for the cleaning task is required. Safety goggles, gloves, and hearing protection are appropriate for most compressed-air cleaning tasks. Safety goggles prevent any stray particles from flying back into the user's eyes.
What are the hazards of using compressed air?
Depending on its pressure, compressed air can dislodge particles. These particles are a danger since they can enter a worker's eyes or damage skin. The potential damage depends on the size, weight, shape, composition, and speed of the particles. The pressure and sound of compressed air can also cause hearing damage.
How do you take care of compressed air?
Compressed air maintenance checklistuse the 'listen, look and detect' method to find leaks and system damage.carry out a lubrication regime and make sure that oil coolers are working correctly.check and replace filters.carry out regular system checks.check drive belt tension and condition.More items...
What should you use to avoid injury from a compression hazard?
Compression socks, sleeves, shirts, and tights are not just style with no substance. This type of clothing is highly effective at preventing injuries.
What is a compression hazard?
Compression (pinching/crushing/roll-over)—Examples: Working with or around moving equipment, or parts. Exposure to falling objects. Use of heavy equipment or tools that could cause compression injuries, etc. Thermal (Hot/Cold)—Examples: Operating furnaces, pouring and casting hot metal, welding.
Which of the following is a safety device on a compressor?
A bursting disc is a copper disc provided at the air cooler of the compressor. It is a safety disc which bursts when the pressure exceeds over the pre-determined value due to leaky air tubes of the cooler (intercooler or aftercooler).
What are the five safety precautions use in machine workshop?
Do not wear loose clothing, loose neckwear or exposed jewelry while operating machinery. Do not work alone. The buddy system is mandatory! • Pull back and secure long hair. Do not wear thin fabric shoes, sandals, open-toed shoes, and high-heeled shoes.
What to look for in an air compressor safety checklist?
To keep track of any issues and ensure you’ve looked at all the necessary areas, create an air compressor safety checklist for your operators to complete before each job. Some of the elements you may want to look at include: Oil level: It’s essential to check and see if the machine has an appropriate amount of oil.
How to prevent air compressor from freezing?
If using an air compressor in freezing temperatures, check that the safety valves are positioned in a way that prevents water from collecting inside the unit. If a valve freezes, thaw it and empty the compressor tank before reactivating the unit . The machine should also have shielded blowoff valves so sudden blowoffs don’t result in equipment damage or injury.
What to do if air compressor freezes?
If using an air compressor in freezing temperatures, check that the safety valves are positioned in a way that prevents water from collecting inside the unit. If a valve freezes, thaw it and empty the compressor tank before reactivating the unit.
What happens if a compressor tank explodes?
If a compressor tank explodes, it can endanger your workers’ lives, but typically, the highest amount of danger lies with the operator. Due to the high pressures and pneumatic tools attached, operators must abide by all safety rules and regulations, including having the proper protective gear.
What is a manual for air compressors?
Manuals contain an abundance of valuable information and will tell you how to keep your compressors running for longer periods without damage or injury. There are also plenty of other resources that discuss how to maintain safety when operating pneumatic tools and air compressors.
How to stop a hose from whipping?
Follow safety procedures for hose malfunctions: If a hose malfunctions or comes apart at the coupling, you can prevent whipping with two components. One is an air fuse of the proper size, which you should install in the hose upstream. The other is a whip-inhibiting device that is placed along the coupling of a hose. If an air hose does start whipping around uncontrollably or another similar air hose problem occurs, don’t try to stop and control it by grabbing the hose. To prevent injury, turn off the air source before touching the hose.
Why is it important to have safety measures in place?
Having safety measures in place is especially important when working with air compressors and other high-powered machinery.
What safety precautions should be adhered to when working with compressed air?
To help keep an air compressor in top shape, Airia have put together a list of common compressed air safety precautions to assist with compiling a regular maintenance schedule:
Always exercise caution
This is not a complete list of compressed air safety procedures, always read the owner’s manual completely for all safety measures and proper operation of a compressor. For any questions on safety issues or technical questions with your machine, please contact Airia.
What are the risks of compressed air?
A variety of tasks requires the use of compressed air including pneumatics, air brakes, refrigeration equipment, breathing equipment, and inflation devices. The intense pressure inside of the canisters means that they pose a potential risk even when they are stationary and not in use. A leak can lead to equipment failure and a puncture can even lead to an explosion. Of course, these are worst case scenarios. However, knowing the risks is the first step towards ensuring compressed air safety.
What are the risks of flying a bubble?
Common risks include; Foreign objects getting lodged under the skin or flying particles cutting or bruising the body. Foreign particles are blown into eyes or eye injuries that can cause loss of sight. The injection of an air bubble into the blood stream that can lead to a fatal embolism.
What type of air is used in manufacturing?
All types of manufacturing processes use compressed air. In fact, almost every process and machine found in an industrial environment use some form of pressurized air or gas. Due to the fact that it is so commonplace, people fail to recognize it as the potential hazard that it is.
How many PSI to blow out an ear drum?
NEVER POINT IT AT YOURSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON! Absolutely no horseplay. It only takes 12 PSI to blow an eye out of its socket, and 40 PSI can blow out an ear drum from 4 inches away. Air moves faster than you do, don’t let a fatal accident happen by trying to be funny.
How much PSI does it take to rupture the esophagus?
Air blown into the mouth that can rupture the esophagus or the lungs. (takes only 5 PSI)
Can a leak in compressed air cause an explosion?
A leak can lead to equipment failure and a puncture can even lead to an explosion. Of course, these are worst case scenarios. However knowing the risks is the first step towards ensuring compressed air safety. Some of the risks of high-pressure air are obvious, some less so. Common risks include;
Can a nozzle leak?
ALWAYS CHECK THE CONDITION OF HOSES AND LINES BEFORE USE! Holes, tears or damaged nozzles can lead to leaks or clogs. These issues can lead to turning the pressure up to an unsafe level to attempt to compensate. Avoid this at all costs. Make sure all equipment is working correctly before use.
Maximum Air Pressure Concerns VS. Non-Toxic Contents
Air is what we breathe, so, unlike fuels and corrosive chemicals, you know compressed air receiver vessels won't leak a hazardous gas into your work area. Regardless of this piece of good news, the vessel is rated for a maximum design pressure, and this air is far from pure.
Banish Hazards by Obeying Safety Regulations
You hear "follow regulations" tips all too often, but there's a good reason for the endless repetition. Safety regulations, as applied to compressed air receiver vessels, keep you on the straight and narrow. Follow guidelines to the letter and adopt a safe operation mindset.
What is the purpose of the guidance on compressed air?
Reflecting the volatility of compressed air, this guidance promotes greater safety knowledge and is addressed to compressor designers, manufacturers, installers and users.
What are the risks of overpressurization?
Citing the major hazard of overpressurisation, it examines associated risks, such as blockages, failure of automatic controls, malfunctions such as overspeeding, external fires nearby, overheating and deposit accumulation. Complemented by circuit diagrams, eg guard-open/closed distinctions, the detail considers the spectrum of subjects including compressor plant, air receivers and dryers, coolers, main line systems, actuators, portable pneumatics and pneumatic powered machinery, while exploring general safety issues such as inspection, maintenance and training needs.