For companies who use abrasive blasting, ventilation must be of key concern. This is partially because OSHA aggressively regulates and monitors it through Standard 1910.94, and partially because abrasive blasting is so dangerous to your employees. Luckily, if you follow the guidelines set forth in Standard 1910.94, you and your employees should be safe from harm.

This standard covers a lot. It covers the full operation from beginning to end, as well as all ventilation parameters, including air purification methods, minimum exhaust obligations, personal protective equipment, and a whole host of other specific details based upon the type of blasting and the abrasive used.

When analyzing your work environment, it is important to start by looking at the location where you are blasting. Is it large enough for the type of blasting you plan to do? Does it have access to adequate ventilation, and if not can the ventilation systems be added? Is there access to external exhaust systems? Once you have ensured that these answers are properly answered (meaning they all meet OSHA’s requirements), you can begin to think about the actual blasting you are doing. Are you doing the blasting you started doing, or have you changed along the way? If you have changed, you need to consider what changed, was it the method or the abrasive, and what steps have since been taken to ensure the area is safe.

After the blasting and the location are well in hand, you can finally consider your purification methods. This can be through proper personal protective equipment for some types of blasting, or through dust collectors and heavy duty exhaust systems for others. Ensure you have the correct plan in place and that it is being followed by your employees through appropriate training.

If you have any questions about this process, or if you would like an accurate audit of your practices, please contact us. And if you have anything to add about ensuring adequate ventilation for abrasive blasting, please leave a comment.

If your business uses abrasive blasting, you must have at least reviewed OSHA Standard 1910.94. This standard covers the ventilation requirements for any business which uses any form of abrasive blasting, including the minimum clean air levels, necessary personal protective equipment, minimum exhaust obligations, and required air purification methods.

It is common knowledge that silica sand, while extremely cost effective, is potentially lethal without a proper ventilation plan. What is less commonly known is what the effects are of other abrasives. For instance, what is required if you utilize garnet, instead of silica? What if you change from synthetic abrasives to another form, such as agricultural? What are the different requirements between wet and dry abrasive blasting? We have seen many companies who were in perfect compliance change their abrasive material and create a hazardous work environment. Likewise, a change could make an extremely hazardous work site into a perfectly safe environment, which would allow you to save a small fortune in now unnecessary ventilation costs.

Another important thing to consider is how you are purifying the air. Will you be utilizing personal protective equipment? Do you need a dust collector or exhaust system? Each blasting device being used with each abrasive material, creates a different potential hazard, and has different safety requirements. Further, these requirements are not static – as new information is discovered, new requirements are released by OSHA.

If you have not recently reviewed this standard or had a qualified third party review your ventilation methods, it might be time to hire a professional team to review your processes. If you would like any additional information, please contact us. If you have anything to add to the discussion, please leave a comment.