Page 38 - Australasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2023

SANDING AND DUST EXTRACTION
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PAINT&PANEL JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2023 WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
KEEP YOUR TEAM SAFE
HAT MAKES A SHOP A CLEAN
shop? Looking at Europe, the environmental and workplace safety regulations mandate that shops are required by law to use a dust extraction system to capture any dust that is produced by sanding throughout the process. While there are no similar regulations in Australia, shops are required by Safe Work Australia, through the spray painting and powder coating code of practice to provide a safe and healthy environment for their
employees.
Sanding operations with discs and
metal working tools can produce microscopic dusts of silica, iron oxide (rust), methylene chloride, along with metallics (potentially lead and chromium) that comes from sanding coat-painted surfaces. These fine dust particles become airborne and, without proper ventilation, linger to be inhaled by shop personnel.
Evolution has given humans a level of protection against naturally occurring levels of materials like dusts and pol- lens, but not against many of the con- centrated materials commonly in use in the repair facility. Dust generated from the sanding process is classified as a “nuisance” and is defined as small parti- cles that clog up the airways of the lungs and create discomfort and breathing dif- ficulty. Inhaling such particles even for a short time can potentially lead to asth- ma, emphysema and other lung-related diseases and irritation.
Filler and primer dust have a huge im- pact on the overall occupational hygiene of the technician and cleanliness of the fa- cility. Most of the dust is produced when sanding with the random orbital sander and hand blocks. The system will opti- mise the dust extraction when connected to 3M Random Orbital Sanders in conjunc- tion with dust free blocks, and 3M Net Abrasive. The 3M Clean Sanding System is
a mobile dust extractor that can be moved from job to job and utilized by two techni- cians at one time.
Key features of the 3M Clean Sanding System
• Designed to reduce dust in the air from sanding for a cleaner and safer workspace.
• Helps shops boost productivity and ef- ficiency by reducing rework and cleanup times.
• Compact and mobile. Designed for easy, flexible use around the shop.
• Compatible with pneumatic and elec- trical sanders.
• Tech-friendly design including automat- ic on/off, antistatic hose, rubber wheels, brake locks, and LED indicator lights.
Contact your local 3M sales representa- tive for a demonstration.
3M has designed a comprehensive sanding system which protects from staff from dust and other harmful particles.