3 hours ago, kmealy said:

and hook up my compressor

 

careful on the compressed air...

“Compressed air is dangerous – in fact it can kill.

 

It is not a good idea to use compressed air to fulfil these tasks.  Although many people know using compressed air to clean clothes can be hazardous, it is still used because of old habits and the easy availability of compressed air in many workplaces.

Most compressed air applications are not connected to electricity, so people do not always consider what dangers may be lurking. But just as safety regulations must be observed for electrical machines and tools, compressed air components must also be treated with respect to avoid dangerous accidents.

“Very serious injuries, sometimes fatal, have occurred when the nozzle of the gun has been pointed towards the body, even at some distance from it. Many of the injuries occur when clothing is dusted down and because of this compressed air should never be used for cleaning clothing. Others are the result of horseplay.”
Extract taken from Health and Safety Executive – HSG39

Compressed air is a concentrated stream of air at high pressure and high speed that can cause serious injury to the operator and the people around him.  First, compressed air is itself is a serious hazard. It has been known for compressed air to enter the blood stream through a break in the skin or through a body opening. An air bubble in the blood stream is known medically as an embolism, a dangerous medical condition in which a blood vessel is blocked, in this case, by an air bubble.

An embolism of an artery can cause coma, paralysis or death depending upon its size, duration and location. While air embolisms are usually associated with incorrect scuba-diving procedures, they are possible with compressed air due to high pressures. This may all seem to be improbable, but the consequences of even a small quantity of air or other gas in the blood can quickly be fatal so it needs to be taken seriously.
Unfortunately, horseplay has been a cause of some serious workplace accidents caused by individuals not aware of the hazards of compressed air, or proper work procedures.

 

 

• Compressed air accidentally blown into the mouth can rupture the lungs, stomach or intestines
• Compressed air can enter the navel, even through a layer of clothing, and inflate and rupture the intestines
• Compressed air can enter the bloodstream, and death is possible if it makes its way to blood vessels in the brain
• Direct contact with compressed air can lead to serious medical conditions and even death
• Even safety nozzles which regulate compressed air pressure below 30 psi should not be used to clean the human body
• As little as 12 pounds of compressed air pressure can blow an eye out of its socket. If an air pocket reaches the heart, it causes symptoms similar to a heart attack. Upon reaching the brain, pockets of air may lead to a stroke.

• What to use instead of compressed air for cleaning purposes?

ACI’s JetBlack is a safe alternative to compressed air, using less energy and emitting less noise than compressed air units. The ACI’s JetBlack blower-driven system delivers a high volume of air at a relatively low pressure – only 2.52 PSI (200 mBar), well below OSHA requirements for North America.

The lower pressure means ACI’s JetBlack can be safely aimed at virtually any part of the body (except eyes and ears); even direct contact with skin poses no hazard (ACI still recommend to exercise caution when using any machinery).

If the airborne dust being removed is harmful, then ACI also offers a full body cleaning booth which has the ability to remove and collect the dust safely and efficiently.

Find out more about the JetBlack Cleaning Stations. 

 

https://www.thesafetybrief.com/9-dangers-of-compressed-air/

 

use your shop vac w/ a brush attachment instead...

Edited November 10, 20169 yr by Stick486

My son has a "pancake " style compressor...but I don't.    

 

Need to make a long wand for his compressor, though.    I can use it to clean all the leaves and other stuff out of a gutter on the back porch.   Wonder IF a powerwasher's wand could be used, without the washer, of course. 

 

Those Tyvek suits......kept you clean, but they did not breathe....so you were soaked if you were doing a lot.    Like "Ice Blasting"  the molds while the machines were down for maintainence day.    Ear muffs ( LOUD) and a full face shield.    Nasty day...

The blower side of my shop vac does a decent job of getting saw dust off my clothes.

I regularly wear coveralls during the winter and have several pair.  A hold over from my farm days, I reckon - and that has been awhile!

Since my shop is not heated the extra layer with a lighter jacket is usually sufficient even on cold days.  I have both "regular" type and a few pair of the lightweight short sleeved variety.  The lightweights must be a smaller size because I cannot put them on and off with my shoes on.  That is a hassle.

I also put them on when I go under the house for any type of work.  Most recently yesterday to reroute some electrical wiring.

Cal

I never wear any extra type clothing, never had a problem blowing off dust, and never been scolded when I bring her something I have made for her, and I don't worry too much about  a little bit of dust and shavings in my pants' cuffs since they don't have cuffs. The problem dust gives me is it makes my head itch if I don't shower and shampoo daily. Course I mostly work with mahogany, and I guess that is what does it. If I can just keep my old machinery going, I will continue to be happy with the shop work.

19 hours ago, steven newman said:

Those Tyvek suits......kept you clean, but they did not breathe....so you were soaked if you were doing a lot.

Yep...we used to put slits in the back during really hot weather even after climate control was installed in the factory.

Helped but they were still HOT.

12 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

The blower side of my shop vac does a decent job of getting saw dust off my clothes.

that's a good plan...