Correction, as of about six years ago Rainbow added a hepafilter to their maching
Again ask if they will put in writing that it is useable for
asbestos and or respireable silica collection, if so then great
otherwise buyer beware.
James Binnion
@James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
360-756-6550
I spoke with the folks at Shop Vac. The technician indicated that their drywall vac liner bags filtered dust particle to 0.1 micron. Airborn investment particles are 10 microns.
Again ask if they will certify in writing that the equipment is good
for asbestos and respirable crystalline silica collection, if so
then you are good otherwise wet mops and sponges are much cheaper.
James Binnion
@James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
360-756-6550
Proper solutions to silica control are not necessarily expensive or complex, I don't do much casting anymore so I quench outside with a N95 dust mask.
One last nail in the coffin from me on this. It is simply not true
that the lungs cannot expel silica. If that were so we would all be
dead from silicosis, and it would be the leading cause of death. It’s
also simply not true that silica is toxic - it is completely
non-toxic. It is hazardous, which is different. If you’re walking
down a dirt road and a car blows by, you just got a good lung full of
silica. If you’re in a dust storm or if you clean out your garage,
the same. Sitting on a beach, which is pure silica. It is what the
crust of the earth is made of, predominantly - the most common
substance by far. The problems occur when you put it in faster or
more than your body can expel. I’m not suggesting we should be
cavalier about it because less is better for sure. It’s the
fear-mongering that I just can’t abide.
It is simply not true that the lungs cannot expel silica.
Sub micron sized dust cannot be expelled because it lodges deep in
the lungs and will not dislodge or dissolve. Larger particles are
trapped higher in the lung are indeed expelled through normal
processes. It is these.2-.5 micron particles that scar the lung
tissue and cause reduced oxygen uptake. It is not a new disease it
is just that we have only recently developed an understanding of it
and its causes. The Federal acknowledgment of its seriousness and
push to start taking appropriate safety measures only began in the
late 90’s.
See http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0200/d000291/d000291.html
If that were so we would all be dead from silicosis, and it would be the leading cause of death. It's also simply not true that silica is toxic - it is completely non-toxic. It is hazardous, which is different.
It is not toxic by ingestion but is by inhalation. It is considered
toxic because it can cause cancer, silicosis and COPD all of which
can cause death.
Taking proper safety precautions appropriate to the size of the shop
and amount of exposure need not be expensive or onerous but ignoring
it just because you don’t believe in the problem is foolish.
This thread is way beyond beaten to death,
Regards,
James Binnion
@James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
360-756-6550
John,
The issue with silicosis is not that the lungs can’t expel it.
You’re quite right about that, although it’s common for our lungs
over time to accumulate a bunch of “stuff” that never quite gets
expelled. (Ever see Body Worlds?)
Rather, the problem with crystalline silica is that it is extremely
sharp. Inhaling it scratches the very delicate lining of the lungs,
which leads to scar tissue forming. The scar tissue decreases both
the flexibility of the lung and its ability to pass oxygen into the
capillaries and blood vessels (which can also be scarred and
damaged).
Having seen my grandfather and aunt die of emphysema/COPD, I know
what an agonizing and horrible disease it can be. It’s also worth
taking seriously. If basic safety precautions in the lab can help
minimize the scarring in my own lungs that could contribute to it,
then it’s worth the extra effort. Our lab at school is not a
controlled environment like that of a “personal” lab - students are
inexperienced at mixing investment safely so it gets all over, and
the quench setup is far from ideal. It’s not fear-mongering to say
that a few relatively simple changes in our setup and safety training
can help all of us decrease exposure to a potentially harmful
irritant, and I appreciate the papers and references that have been
cited throughout this discussion, which have helped me make a more
informed choice about my own health.
Karen Goeller
No Limitations Designs
Hand-made, one-of-a-kind jewelry
www.nolimitations.com
Just out of interest (as I’ve never done any casting but in case I
want to have a go, or just to enquire about air purifying machines
for my work space in general), I emailed a company yesterday asking
whether their air purifying systems were certified to eliminate
airbourne silica dust and said that I was only interested in a system
that had been tested specifically for and certified for airbourne
silica elimination rather than it being up to the job merely by
someone’s opinion. I received a reply but they were not very helpful.
The chap just said check out the specs on our website. I had emailed
as the specs on the website didn’t mention their systems being up to
such a task. There must be some affordable systems somewhere which
are up to the job.
Helen
UK
I agree that this thread is dead, but this is related. I would like
to elaborate on where I’m coming from with another example - one of
ventilation. I recently toured a shop in an art school - a big art
school. Each and every soldering station has a 4 inch pipe with a
flange on the end to suck up “fumes”. I can only imagine what the
machinery is behind that. The last shop I worked in before opening my
own had 6 or 7 goldsmiths working 8 hours a day in the space of a two
car garage - 12 hours on OT. It wasn’t a garage, just about that
size. There were actually about 15-18 people there, but 6-7 torches
going all day long - we never turned them off. For ventilation, we
opened a couple of windows. Did we have respiratory problems? Nope.
Did we have cyanosis or dilated pupils? Nope. Did we get drowsy or
sleepy? Nope. Did any of us get sick of related problems? Nope, not
ever. Did any of us die from any obscure or dire diseases related to
“fumes”? Nope, happy as clams. Multiply that by the millions of
people working in similar circumstances and you’ll get the picture.
Do jewelers have a shorter lifespan? Nope. Do bench jewelers have any
occupationionally related respiratory diseases greater that the
general population? Nope. So why the six 4 inch ventilation pipes?
Because it’s school, I guess. If anybody wants to put in a gigantic
ventilation system, and it makes them feel good, and they have peace
of mind, that’s perfectly fine with me. Karen talked about a personal
connection to COPD, and if it eases her mind, that’s perfectly fine
with me. When somebody gets up in front of a crowd and yells at the
top of their lungs that everybody must have 4" pipe over every
soldering station because of “fumes”, even though there’s no real
evidence to support it medically, I will get outraged, and you may
have noticed I don’t mind saying it. Are there “fumes”? Techinically,
I guess. Do they mean anything? Since nobody in industry has had any
statistically significant problems for a century or so, probably not.
As people have pointed out in other context’s on Orchid - do your
homework BEFORE you write it down. On the other hand, I am probably
the most safety aware of people in my network of jewelers - don’t
confuse what I’m saying with being casual about safety. But chasing
molecules of “fumes” with a massive ventilation system and then
walking outside when a bus goes by spewing diesel is pretty
ridiculous. If a person wants to work in a hermetically sealed
chamber and it makes them feel good and feel safe and have piece of
mind then they’ll get no argument from me. If you’re going to stand
up and say that the rest of the world somehow needs to share that
paranoia, I will protest. 100% safety is good. 150% safety is even
better. 10,000% safety means you don’t get it.
Reguarding the topics Silicosis and quenching I would like to add &
nbsp;something I learned at TIJT Paris in the casting labs. The
spilled investment was sprayed with Pledge though any cheep spray
wax would work. The idea was to encapsulate the fine particles and
keep them from becoming free floating when dry. The investment was
then wiped up with disposable paper towels and disposed into
dedicated plastic bags. I became of social security age this Labor
Day weekend. While I have not smoked for a long time, I have had
T.B., Black Lung, Chemical Phunemonia, and Asbestos Exposure. All
this adds up. In my case, the bill has not yet come due. With care I
will suck on the social teat for many years to come. Please be
prudent with the cumulative load you will be asking your body to
carry. Please be good to Yourselves.
ROBB.