Increasing Productivity during Industrial Projects

Respirable Crystalline Silica (also known as RCS) is a naturally occurring substance which is commonly found in stone, granite, concrete and more. Within an industrial setting, exposure is a risk when carrying out refractory works or other similar processes.

Silica is categorised as respirable dust, meaning its particles are so fine you can’t see them. Once these particles are breathed in, they reach deep into your lungs, and repeated long-term exposure can lead to Cancer, Asthma and Silicosis. One of the most effective ways to manage worker exposure is by capturing these dangerous particles at the source and extracting them away from the work area.

Download our Full Whitepaper: Understanding the Dangers of Silica Dust
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When considering climate control there’s two key areas: heating and drying. Introducing heat supports raising the ambient temperature and drying out can support curing time during tasks such as laying resin flooring.

It’s vital to maintain the correct climatic condition on your industrial project, especially during the winter months. Inconsistent temperatures can impact the integrity of work carried out and potentially cause delays and costs that have not been accounted for due to work needing to be redone.

As well as production quality, temperature can also have adverse effects on team efficiency (including increased sickness due to colder working temperatures) and machinery performance. With so many things to manage at one time on the project, suitable engineering and hazard controls can allow you to focus on the task at hand.

Compliance with regulations is imperative, failure to do so can lead to fines or imprisonment for both companies and individuals found to be guilty of not doing so. Regulations you may need to comply with include: HSE, COSHH, QSHE, Food Safety & Hygiene Regulations or Medicines and Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency.

Download our Full Whitepaper: Understanding COSHH Regulation

Chromium 6 is commonly used in the production and use of stainless steel. It is mainly produced from commercial and industrial processes and its compounds present a significant effect on people’s health. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified Chromium 6 as causing cancer in humans, breathing or inhaling air containing Chromium 6 compounds over a long period may cause lung cancer.

If your industrial project takes place in a plant or similar location that plays a part in the production of Chromium 6, hazard control will be paramount for protecting the long-term health of teams undertaking work.

ATEX stands for EXplosive ATmospheres and is the name commonly given to the two European Directives for controlling explosive atmosphere: Directive 99/92/EC and Directive 2014/34/EU.

An explosive atmosphere is when an environment could have flammable gases, mists or vapours, or combustible dusts (such as metal dust or flour), and all it needs is a source of ignition to cause an explosion. ATEX approved equipment is designed to provide a safe, suitable solution for these environments.

A Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) system is designed to extract contaminants at source and HSE recognise that, for an LEV system to be compliant, it will consist of the following 5 components:

• A Suitable Hood (capture, enclosing or receptor)
• Filter/s
• Fan
• Ducting
• Discharge Point

LEV Solutions also require a Thorough Examination & Test every 14 months - although this is subject to change as regulations are updated and revisited. Here at RVT, we take product performance very seriously and have always had a rigorous maintenance programme in place to ensure that every product is serviced between each hire.

Download Our Related Toolbox Talk: A Guide to LEV Systems

General ventilation alone cannot control dust or fumes, it just moves the contaminated air around. A Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) system actively reduces exposure to contaminants by capturing the hazard at the source, and filtering it to remove harmful particles before expelling clean, safe air.

RVT Group has a team of dedicated LEV engineers who have undergone extensive training with the likes of BOHS to help advise on a compliant and thorough solution that will help project teams achieve their goals. Our LEV solutions also undergo Thorough Examination and Testing (TExT) before leaving our depot, so you can rest assured everything is in working order when it arrives.

What is Thorough Examination and Testing? Watch the Video