Road Dust Control

Archive for the ‘dust control’ Category

In order to limit exposure to silica and prevent silicosis, a circular issued by the labour department has asked industries, factories, project developers and contractors employing workers as stone crushers, stone quarry, construction work, glass manufacturing, quartz crushing, stone mines and other silicon dust producing works, to ensure the control of dust at work site.

They must also eliminate the use of abrasive blasting materials that contain more than one per cent crystalline silica and use dust control methods such as blast cabinets and wet drilling or sawing, it said, adding that the employers must also maintain dust control systems.

The workers must wear disposable or washable protective clothing, take shower and change clothes before leaving the worksite if possible, the circular said, adding there must be a regular monitoring of air to ensure that control systems are working.

Workers must be provided with respirators approved for protection to be used against crystalline silica containing dust when levels can not be kept below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), it said adding the employers must provide medical check-ups to workers exposed to crystalline silica.

Workers must be provided with protective equipment and training materials on the health effects of silica exposure, it added.

Tags: permissible exposure limit, dust control systems, silica exposure, stone crushers, crystalline silica

Neighbors of the tailing piles at Asarco’s Mission Mine are complaining that the wind-blown dust is hurting their health by aggravating asthma and other respiratory problems leading to coughing, clogged sinuses and wheezing.

Some want federal and state regulators to shut down the mine, at least until it’s clear that the problem of blowing tailings dust is fixed for good.

At a public meeting in Sahuarita Friday, an Asarco official apologized for the two incidents last November and December in which tailings blew into the neighboring Rancho Resort and led Pima County officials to slap the company with violation notices. But Asarco’s Tom Aldrich said company efforts to fix the problem already are working, since tailings didn’t blow off the site during 50 mile per hour winds as recently as Jan. 21.

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Tags: sinus problems, state regulators, environmental protection agency, tom aldrich, valley fever

In many locations worldwide, mining corporations really need to be responsible for their fugitive dust emissions. A mixture of problems will arise when dust control guide lines aren't adopted. Simple procedures should be implemented to help shield the surroundings along with the people who work on and reside in close proximity to the mines. 

When looking at mining methods, we know that air will be affected by dust particles as well as chemical emissions. Strip Mining generates many toxins that get released into the environment. Dust particles from long-term storage will become forced into the atmosphere by high winds, erosion of subjected hillsides, pit dumps and tailings dams, will lead to contamination of drainages, creeks and rivers.

In areas of backwoods mining, reminiscent of Alaska, there might be environment destruction and destruction or else disturbance of ecosystems, which in-turn upset subsistence in the area. Mining could be the source of several forms of air pollution, akin to dust pollution along with diesel emissions. Added pollutant more likely to be seen is above ground lead, mercury along with methane from coal base extractions and road dust.

All mining, along with limestone processing, produces sizable quantities of dust particles. Fugitive dust is particulate matter that could be carried in the air by wind. Airborne dirt and dust sources from mines get here from sources akin to open pits, ore and waste piles along with concentrated storage areas, ore crushing, uncovered ore trucks and the limited control of road dust

These sources may cause impacts to the condition of atmosphere itself which can impact individuals living nearby the mine, staff and animals. Also when the dirt particles land, soils, and plants, are impacted. It's mainly of worry if airborne dirt and dust has elevated ranges of metals.

The Center for Disease Control has put together a file that gives operators, of open mines, a ventilation planning application which will help them develop a healthier, safer, plus much more efficient ventilation system in the workplace.

Good dust control  strategies can be:

    * Watering haulage roads/piles
    * Application of dust suppressants
    * Cover trucks   
    * Using top-seal on roads
    * Handling technology – scrubbers, filters
    * Reclaim/revegetate
    * Dust particles can be prevented or terminated by implementing suppressants.
    * Ore crushing areas may be enclosed.

Additional ways to reduce emissions are using alternate power sources (wind, pv), clean power sources along with implementing emission management equipment akin to scrubbers, filters, adsorption units. Production management equipment may be put on the top of the duct/stack to scale back emissions and these are generally successful in reducing emissions that effect communities.

Mining practices are affiliated with a range of health hazards, also these bear grave effects on the welfare of ladies and youngsters ranging from pollution in the atmosphere and water as well as noise pollution.

Nursing moms together with their children stand a chance of poisoning. According to health experts, mercury poisoning may lead to birth disorders, as soon as it enters the placenta and might lead to mortality.

The atmosphere pollution in mining regions, ensuing from the discharge of substances just like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides and additional atmospheric dirt particles, will set off upper respiratory tract Infections. The high silica -content rocks nonetheless, generate lots of dirt particles in the course and lengthy periods of exposure near this dust, according to health experts, will set off silicosis in addition to silico-tuberculosis.

Experiments performed in regions of coal mining, have been predominantly worried with respiratory health issues caused by atmosphere pollution from mining actions. An evaluation was performed of long-term effects of exposure near atmosphere pollution in school kids. The predominance of pulmonary and ear, nostril and throat symptoms was elevated in the polluted communities, but a statistically significant differentiation was barely observed for the symptom “wheezing in the chest”.

Soils Control International specializes within a practice of mining dust concerning dust abatement and Soil Stabilization Chili

Tags: dirt particles, pollution particles, long term storage, fugitive dust emissions, airborne dirt

Floor Sweepers and Floor Scrubbers from Tennant Features Tennant sweepers provide excellent debris pick up and dust control. They deliver superior, long lasting results even in the harshest environments with continuous up time and powerful sweeping performance.

Tennant sweepers control dust particles down to 3 microns. Tennant’s latest innovation, SweepSmart™, filters dust particles down to 0.5 microns.

1. Side brush sweeps debris into the path of the main broom
2. Skirt system creates a seal to maximise dust collection
3. Main broom contacts floor surface and flicks dust and debris into the hopper
4. Perma-Filter™ shifts airflow and forces the majority of dust, debris and moisture into hopper
5. Cyclonic filter system channels airflow to further remove dust and moisture from the air, redirecting it into the hopper
6. Nanofibre canister filter traps sub-micron dust particles resulting in clean air exhaust
7. The ErgoSpace™ operator compartment increases operator comfort, visibility and safety

Applications for Tennant Sweepers.

The Tennant SweepSmart™ system, available on the new S30 ride-on sweeper, uses a 3-stage dust control system for unrivalled performance.

* The first stage Perma-Filter™ keeps large bulky debris in the hopper
* The second stage cyclonic filter redirects fine dust and moisture back into the hopper
* The third stage flame-retardant nanofibre canister filter, filters sub-micron dust particles down to 0.5 microns

Benefits of the Sweepers

* Easy to use and it is built to last
* Extremely flexible, designed to clean a variety of surfaces indoors and out, without compromising performance
* Offers unparalleled safety with reduced noise levels, better sightlines and easy operation as well as significantly improved air quality

Tennant Industrial Sweepers include:

* 110 Walk-Behind Sweepers
* S8 Walk-Behind Sweepers
* S10 Walk-Behind Sweepers
* 3640 Walk-Behind Sweepers
* S12 Small Ride On Sweepers
* 6100 Small Ride On Sweepers
* 6200 Small Ride On Sweepers

Tags: tennant sweepers, dust particles, dust debris, industrial sweepers, floor sweepers

With the assistance of its attorneys at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Chicago, Martin Engineering has again prevailed in a suit for patent infringement initially filed against it by Air Control Science Inc.

Air Control Science Inc., Boulder, CO, was owned by John Fischer, a former Martin Engineering distributor, and is now part of CCC Group, of San Antonio. In the original action, Air Control Science sued Martin Engineering for patent infringement. Martin Engineering countersued, and following trial in March 2008, was awarded costs as the prevailing party.

In a follow-up ruling issued January 19, 2010, U.S. senior district court Judge Richard P. Matsch ruled all three patents asserted were unenforceable for inequitable conduct, found the case “exceptional”, and awarded Martin its attorney fees. Prior to the March 2008 trial, the court had reserved for later determination Martin Engineering’s defense and counterclaim of unenforceability of the patents due to inequitable conduct. Trial to the court of the inequitable conduct counterclaim commenced September 1, 2009 and concluded September 8, 2009.

In January 2005, Air Control Science Inc. sued Martin Engineering in Denver, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,000,533, 6,176,368 and 6,135,171, all relating to dust control systems used in the transfer of bulk material. Martin Engineering denied infringement and asserted defenses of invalidity and unenforceability due to inequitable conduct in procuring and enforcing the patents. In February 2007, Air Control Science, along with the patents in suit was acquired by CCC Group Inc., a San Antonio corporation, which was then substituted as Plaintiff. A three-week trial was conducted in U.S. District Court in Denver in March 2008. On September 17, 2008, Senior Judge Matsch ruled that the ‘533 and ‘368 patents were invalid and that Martin did not infringe the ‘171 patent. Costs were awarded to Martin Engineering as the prevailing party.

This decision, which can be reviewed at www.martin-eng.com/news, is another significant victory for Martin Engineering and its counsel, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, who were adamant in defense of this litigation.

Ed Peterson, chairman of Martin Engineering, expects the company to be awarded in excess of $4 million in litigation fees and expenses as a result of Judge Matsch’s finding of the case as “exceptional” and his strongly worded opinion of inequitable conduct.

Tags: patent infringement, ccc group, patent costs, barnes thornburg, martin engineering

A Fletcher Building business will next week open a huge new cement bulk storage and distribution centre.

Auckland City Mayor John Banks is due to open Golden Bay Cement’s $45 million Auckland plant at Eastport on Wednesday.

The centre is on the corner of Tooley St and Plumer St on the waterfront and includes a 2700sq m cement silo.

An 816sq m service centre for loading and dispatching trucks has also been developed, enabling cement to be distributed directly to the region and where it will arrive either by barge or boat from Golden Bay’s plant at Whangarei.

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Tags: quay st, cement silo, tooley st, dust nuisance, red fence

During summer, having an air conditioner outdoor may be relaxing for family members. In Middle of Summer, many people don’t like to stay outdoors as sweat keeps rolling down their face and skin. Misting systems can improve your outdoor and lifestyle! Do you want to spend more time out by the pool? Your patio or outdoor space can be cooled quickly by as much as 35 degrees due to misting systems. Buying a misting system can be very effective for people as they can sit in their backyard for long hours and have fun. Misting system are big, industrial-looking fans that spray a misty stream of water on your body.

Misting systems can be effective for other purposes like frost protection, air filtration, dust abatement, odor removal, fire and smoke control and more. Certain industries like restaurants, poultry and dairy farms, zoos and amusement parks, golf courses, tennis courts, metal forging etc it use it.

Different types of misting systems:

High Pressure misting systems:

High pressure systems are chosen for applications where maximum cooling is needed. These applications would include residential areas, restaurants, amusement parks, sports stadium, hotels and resorts. Other benefits include they can control odors and dust and used to add humidity to a green house or other environments. High pressure systems are also used for fire and smoke control, frost protection and visual effects in a pool, garden or other areas.

Patio water misters:

Patio misting systems are effective in dry and desert climates which add therapeutic moisture to the air. Benefits of this misting system are they can cool the environment and reduce dust, pollen and other airborne pollutants. In addition, it can reduce the temperature in a given area by up to 30 degrees. To achieve maximum cooling result, it is advisable that customers install their patio misting systems at least 10 feet off the ground. Depending on the usage, it is important that you remove the nozzles to clean them. In most cases, this should be done every few months.

Fog Misting Systems:

Before purchasing a fog misting system, carefully evaluate the product. Look for a UL Listing and a CE certification. Ask for quite operation, low maintenance and long life. Make sure that the product you purchase is manufactured from a reputable company which has at least 10 years of experience in the industry and always ask for product warranty. This product is used in backyard patios as well as large commercial venues such as restaurants, hotels, resorts or amusement parks.

Benefits:

1. One biggest advantage is that air temperature can drop drastically by up to 35 degrees F.

2. Second advantage is that mist keeps flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, wasps, hornets and spiders away from the area. Mist can also clean the surrounding area away from dust, smoke, pollution and other common pollutants.

3. Third benefit is pets can spend time with you in the mist area as they also get hot.

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Sandvik’s HX410 electrostatic dust suppression system will take on the challenge of transmit point dust suppression at German company RWE Power AG. The client will evaluate the HX410 on a conveyor for lignite and overburden within the Garzweiler open pit mine. The conveyor incorporates a capacity up to 37 500 t/h at a belt speed of seven,5 m/s (25 ft/s) and a belt width of 2800 mm (one hundred ten in).

Till now, RWE Power AG has used primarily water-sprinkling to scale back the dust to acceptable levels. At a transfer point, RWE Power AG cannot use water-sprinkling as a result of of the coal-on-line-analytic-system which is installed in this place. One double HX410 will be installed on the upstream conveyor and a second double HX410 on the downstream conveyor. Because the Sandvik HX410 has already proven its effectiveness and reliability in more than 200 applications, RWE Power AG decided to grant it a chance to prove its talents in the most demanding environment.

The system is ionization-based and has been designed to bind dust where it is formed. It's a straightforward system with terribly low operating and maintenance costs, giving several advantages in comparison to traditional “suction-through-filter” or water-based systems. It's suitable for retrofits or installations on new conveyor systems. The HX410 ensures that chutes, loading points and transfer point don’t generate unacceptable dust emissions. Without correct dust management, each transfer point might generate a lot of air-borne dust that eventually spreads everywhere the conveyor area. In most applications, a single HX410 is installed right after the chute on top of the belt.

Basically there are two completely different standard sizes accessible: 1, for belt widths 400 to 650 mm (sixteen to 25 in); and 2, for belt widths 800 to 1400 mm (31 to fifty five in). For wider belts, custom made constructions will be offered by Sandvik. The power requirement for a standard system is below 500 W and maintenance time is less than 1 hour per month. The system picks up particles within the range of 0.01 to a hundred µm. The efficiency for an average particle size of 5 µm is usually on top of 90%.
Applications and use of the HX410 will be found at bulk material transfer points in industries such as: mining, aggregates, steel, cement, foundries, glass and paper. However, it is not suitable for environments with explosive dust.

Tags: coal dust, dust control, coal mine, Mining

Mesa County and the city of Grand Junction are collaborating with state health officials to monitor and control dust that can whip up blinding storms in the spring and pose an unhealthy nuisance for residents.

County commissioners adopted an agreement Monday with the city and the state’s Air Quality Control Division that officials say should help protect the public and reduce the chances that the Grand Valley violates federal air-quality standards when it comes to dust pollution.

Local and state officials are trying to address elevated air dust levels in the valley that exceed the federal particulate matter standard known as PM10, as well as determine whether increased levels are created here or outside the area.

The federal government allows Mesa County to exceed the PM10 standard three times in a three-year period. If the standard is exceeded a fourth time, the state and local governments have to develop a plan to bring the valley’s air quality back into compliance.

Mike Brygger, county air quality specialist, said the county exceeded the PM10 standard three times in 2005 but not once since.

“We haven’t exceeded that standard in the last couple of years, but there’s always the potential to have a bad year,” he said.

Local officials aren’t just watching for elevated levels of dust. They’re also looking to see where the dust comes from.

That’s important because if air monitors register particulate sizes that violate federal standards, but those particulates came from a dust storm that blew in from outside the valley, local officials can claim the elevated levels were beyond their control. They can then petition the Environmental Protection Agency to remove the incident from a federal database and not have it count as a strike against the county.

For example, Brygger said, two of the PM10 standard violations in 2005 were the result of regional, not local, dust.

The agreement between the state, county and city reinforces dust-control measures already in place.

For the first time, it also brings in another agency to notify the public when high levels of dust are in the air.

Beginning this spring, the National Weather Service will issue blowing dust and public health advisories as necessary, advising elderly and citizens with breathing problems to stay indoors and people in general not to exercise outside.

The agreement also requires the city and county to review the effectiveness of their dust-control measures and implement any necessary modifications every two years.

Tags: dust control, Dust, PM10

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says air quality last year improved.

An annual report shows that air quality trends for pollutants for which air quality standards have been developed – along with some heavy metals, nitrates, sulfates, volatile organic and toxic compounds – are continuing to show downward or stable trends that are well below the established standards.

Air quality during 2008 was either good or moderate more than 96 percent of the time throughout Illinois.

There were 14 days air quality in some part of Illinois was considered "Unhealthy" for sensitive groups, this compares to 24 "Unhealthy" for sensitive groups days in 2007.

The improved numbers come even though a more stringent federal standard for measuring acceptable air quality was used for the 2008 report.

Percentage changes from 1999 through 2008 show decreases of 14 percent for particulate matter (PM10), 20 percent particulate matter (PM2.5), 15 percent for sulfur dioxide, 13 percent for nitrogen dioxide, 47 percent for carbon monoxide, 18 percent for lead and 12 percent for ozone.

Tags: percentage changes, environmental protection agency, annual report, ozone, air quality trends, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, air quality standards