Food for Thought from Filtermist : One of the main risks to employee health within food manufacturing facilities is the quality of the air due to the nature of common processes including tipping, mixing, grinding and milling.
Flour dust can act as an irritant which causes short-term respiratory, nasal and eye problems for workers, and can potentially cause asthma attacks in asthma sufferers. Exposure to high levels over a prolonged period can lead to longer-term illnesses.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that exposure to flour dust is the UK’s second most common cause of occupational asthma. Exposure limits set down by the HSE in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (COSHH) regulations are very clear:
The maximum acceptable exposure over an eight-hour period is 10mg/m3, with a maximum short-term limit (15 minutes) of 30mg/m3.
Using Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) to reduce flour dust is an approved way of minimising the risk to employees as well as guaranteeing companies are operating within the legal emissions limits.
Filtermist offers a wide range of solids handling and processing products and services – some are designed to protect food production operatives from exposure to hazardous airborne particles and help employers comply with COSHH and DSEAR regulations, whilst others minimise product wastage. Products from Filtermist brand Dustcheck include silo venting filters, sack tipping units and inlet protection filters.
As a turnkey solutions provider, Filtermist provides an end-to-end package from initial consultation to installation. With comprehensive aftersales services including LEV testing provided by Filtermist engineers throughout the UK.
Contact Filtermist to discuss how it can help your business to be cleaner, safer and more productive, or visit the team on Stand L261 at Foodex from 30th March – 1st April 2020.
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