1)      Keep aisles clear of debris to prevent trip and fall accidents. Sweep daily or at the end of each shift. Clearly define aisles with marking tape.

2)      Clean up spills promptly. Keep a supply of kitty litter or sorbent pads or ‘socks’ on hand to soak up oil or hydraulic fluid leaks.

3)      Put tools away promptly. Pick up rakes, brooms and shovels after use. This seems so obvious, but if you’ve ever had a hammer go through your shredder, you know how important this is.

4)      Vacuum dust off equipment, ledges and rafters on a regular basis, or engage a professional cleaning service. According to OSHA and the NFPA, just a ¼” layer of dust is sufficient to create an explosive fire hazard.

5)      Use a fire rated rag bin for oily, greasy or paint covered rags. Improperly stored rags can spontaneously combust.

6)      NEVER allow smoking or open lights of any kind.

7)      Have your fire extinguishers serviced regularly. Are your personnel trained in their use? If not, ask your servicing company if they provide this training, or buy a program from a safety training company.

8)      Make sure all exits are clearly marked and emergency lighting is in place. Have an emergency evacuation plan posted at all points of entry. Practice evacuation drills with your employees.

9)      Develop a daily checklist of housekeeping items. Many companies require this as part of their shift supervisor or lead person’s daily paperwork.

10)  Make housekeeping an integral part of your safety program. Put your procedures in writing, and train your employees in good housekeeping practices. Stress accountability so everyone knows what is expected.

Remember, the time you invest in good housekeeping practices can pay off in years of productive, safe business operations.

AES was selected from among seven US and European vendors to fulfill a $1.2 MM contract to design and install a complete dust collection system for a new airlaid manufacturing line that is scheduled to be operational in late 2011. The facility is located on the east coast of the United States.

The dust collector is the first of it’s kind to be built in the US. It will have several custom features including a proprietary cleaning circuit design and state of the art electrical controls to maximize energy efficiency.

The project award was the result of over six months of collaborative effort between AES and the customer to ensure the dust collector would meet the demanding performance and safety requirements established by OSHA and the NFPA.

AES is a systems design and integration company located in Souderton, PA. The company provides custom-built turnkey material handling and environmental control systems to help industries manage their manufacturing by-product and control dust emissions and their associated risks. For more information, please contact Jeff Dietterich, President, at aesjeff@aesales.net.

NAID Executive Director and CEO Bob Johnson cited Mr. Dietterich’s dedication to the industry and in particular, his chairmanship of the NAID Health and Safety Committee, as deciding factors in the selection process. The Committee recently completed drafting operational and manufacturing safety standards for both mobile and plant-based shredding equipment for the secure destruction industry.  “Over the last year, and throughout the process of creating the new safety guidelines, Jeff not only exhibited clear leadership and insight, he was also keenly aware and sensitive to how the new standards would impact the average destruction company”, Johnson said.  “And, on top of all that, he showed that he was not afraid to roll up his sleeves and do most of the heavy lifting himself to keep the project on course.”  The Committee’s work is currently under review by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).  Formal adoption of the new rules is expected within the next few months. The NAID Health and Safety Committee presented an informational session on the proposed rules at the Conference.

Advanced Equipment Sales provides fully integrated shredding, baling and dust control systems for mobile and plant-based secure destruction companies and other industrial processes. AES has been an associate member of NAID since 2003. The company is located in Souderton, PA.

As published in NAID News, December 2010

The act of shredding paper produces dust – lots of dust. It’s the nature of the business. Anyone who’s ever seen a mobile truck dump its load is familiar with the ghostly white cloud that rises from the pile. Conversely, plant-based shredding introduces a steady stream of fine particulate into the air. So what’s the problem with a little dust?  Over time, dust build-up will clog equipment and shorten its service life, and airborne particles can irritate lungs and eyes, presenting a health risk for employees. But there’s another often-overlooked hazard that you can’t afford to ignore. Dust is highly explosive, and how you deal with it has never been more important now that the Occupational Health and Safety Agency (OSHA) has established a special program to identify dust-related hazards in the workplace.

OSHA initiated it’s National Emphasis Program (NEP) for Combustible Dusts in November 2007 in response to a massive dust explosion the killed 14 workers at Imperial Sugar’s Port Wentworth, GA facility earlier that year. Since that time the NEP for Combustible Dust has targeted a broad range of industries, issuing nearly 5,000 violations in the past 3 years. Hundreds of compliance officers across the country have been provided with specific training to identify combustible dust hazards in the workplace. While OSHA does not specifically target the secure destruction industry, its inspectors have cited secure destruction facilities for dust violations as a direct result of this emphasis program. Some facilities were also cited for additional violations involving personal protective equipment, electrical equipment for hazardous (classified) locations, first aid, powered industrial trucks, and fire extinguisher standards.  Another common violation is the use of compressed air in excess of 30 psi for cleaning purposes. Not only does this practice violate the standard, but it could potentially cause deflagration or explosion of the resulting dust cloud if ignition sources are present.

Although OSHA, at present, does not have a specific standard on combustible dust hazards, the agency has several existing standards that apply to facilities that handle combustible dust. In addition, there are other Federal and State standards that OSHA refers to in its inspection and enforcement activities.

How does this affect your secure destruction business? Putting it into perspective, the typical secure destruction operation does not generate enough dust to create the kind of massive explosion and fire that prompted this OSHA emphasis program. However, the paper dust generated in a paper shredding operation is flammable, and under the right conditions, explosive. The mere presence of a 1/32” layer of dust on a horizontal surface can be cause for citation. If there is an existing dust collection system in operation it must be equipped or retrofit with certain safety features that mitigate the opportunity for a dust fire or explosion.

Diligent housekeeping is the number one way to keep dust under control. Equipment can be enclosed and equipped with covers that may reduce the amount of dust that becomes airborne in a facility. If that is not enough, additional measures such as equipping you operation with an integrated dust control system may be necessary. If this is the case, engage the services of a qualified, experienced professional that is thoroughly familiar with your process and all of the pertinent fire safety standards. You should also contact the local Fire Marshal or Building Code Enforcement Officer to review your dust collection system design and installation plan BEFORE you purchase or install any equipment.

Making dust control an integral part of your company’s heath & safety program is just good business. A cleaner, healthier work environment encourages greater productivity, reduces accidents, mitigates the risk of fire and reduces the risk of OSHA fines and penalties.

Jeff Dietterich is President of Advanced Equipment Sales, a NAID Associate Member, and chairs he NAID Health and Safety Committee