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Vapours, mists, combustible dust, and flammable gases can create an explosive atmosphere. An explosion can occur when a source of ignition and a hazardous substance mix together.
The risk of an explosion is always present and can result in serious injuries, fatalities, and other damage. With the right equipment, it is possible to prevent and manage the release of hazardous substances and avoid ignition sources.
A workplace that handles organic dust or manufactures flammable products is considered an explosive environment. There is also a risk of explosions in places where there are activities that release vapours and combustible dust.
Temperatures ranging from -20 degrees to 40 degrees Celsius and pressures ranging from 0.8 bars to 1.1 bars define an explosive environment.
Employers are required under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations (DSEAR) mandate to follow the rules and procedures for limiting workplace explosions caused by explosive environments.
What kind of tools should be used to reduce the danger of explosions at work?
Equipment with an ATEX certification reduces the risk of explosion in an explosive environment. The European Directives are where it gets its name. The workplace regulation, also known as Directive 99/92/EC, outlines the minimal requirements for employee health and safety protection when they work in potentially hazardous environments. Additional rules support the directives.
The ATEX Equipment Directive is commonly known as Directive 94/9/EC. Employers must make sure to divide the explosive environment into zones in order to protect workers from the risk of explosions. They must describe the characteristics of the location and size of the designated zones.
Employers are required to classify gases based on temperature and explosion types when they are present in an explosive setting. At an unstable workplace, the temperature and ambient should also be organised according to the different classes of gas that are present. Employers must also make sure protocols are in place to safeguard the areas from any ignition source and make sure that their equipment and protective systems are designed with the environment in mind. The equipment, application, and all electrical and non-electric sources of ignition must all be taken into account.SpaceVac provides a wide variety of Atex vacuum cleaners. The Atex Lite is designed to provide an entry-level cleaning solution for operators working in specialised explosive atmospheres. Whereas the ATEX Pro 50mm has been designed specifically for use in industrial factory areas designated for explosive atmospheres.
