For years we have been hearing about air quality, what we breathe, PM10, and so on. All of this, although critically important, tends not to shock us very much anymore.
Let us put these general considerations aside and go back to the painting department, specifically to the area around the spray booth.
Here, air monitoring should be particularly careful: the composition of liquid coating products can cause significant problems for the painter, even when they use PPE correctly.
In the spray booth, especially in the summer months, temperatures can become unbearable, and in reality not all operators wear hooded coveralls, goggles, etc. In these situations – even more than under normal conditions – adequate air exchange in the booth and a constant air velocity are essential to ensure at least acceptable working conditions.
These parameters are much easier to achieve if the recommendations for using dry filtration are followed and if filter pressure drop is correctly monitored.
Today there are latest-generation manometers that not only display filter clogging with a coloured scale, but also emit an acoustic alarm when the filters need to be replaced.
Painters should pay as much attention to these readings as they do when, in their car, a beep and a warning light indicate that the fuel is running low. The difference, however, is substantial: if you run out of fuel, at worst you have to walk a bit; if the filter runs on “reserve”, it is your health that is at stake.
Unfortunately, these signals often go unnoticed – and that is a real pity.
Isn’t it time we became more aware of these aspects?
Perhaps starting by installing these instruments in positions that are clearly visible and easy to read…