Working Safely with Compressed Air
Thursday, April 28th is the annual celebration of World Day for Safety & Health at Work, a day that focuses on the health and well-being of all employees in the workplace. No matter the work environment – a construction site, corporate office, or engineering facility – it’s imperative that all employees not only know safety policy and procedures, but that the company focuses on these safety measures around the clock. Safety is a culture that must be lived to be effective.
To celebrate World Day for Safety & Help at Work, we’re highlighting tips that will allow you to work safely with compressed air & compressed air equipment!
Remember – Compressed Air is an Energy Source! Like every source of energy, there is inherent danger in its use.
Use Proper Piping – Only use materials suitable for compressed air when designing and building a distribution network. OSHA strongly recommends against the use of PVC piping as it can become brittle and will break sending shards of sharp pipe flying nearby.
Read the Manual. Although it may be seemed intuitive, the instruction manual accompanying your equipment contains a wealth of information about how the machinery should operate. Sticking to the best practices provided in the manual ensures that your equipment – and yourself! – will stay in tip-top shape for as long as possible!
Train Your Personnel. Only trained, experienced employees should be handling compressed air equipment! Do not allow untrained persons to work on compressors or related equipment.
Shutoff Valve. When working with compressed air, always be aware of how to make it safe by disconnecting or isolating the point of use from the source.
Wear proper PPE. Depending on how it is being used, compressed air can pose a hazard that could affect hearing, breathing and eyesight. Protect yourself and your employees from exposure by using the proper personal protective equipment.
