| Page 6 of 6 |
|
|
|
 Getting
Tough on Dust
Part III - Dealing with
Fine Dust
Personal Respiratory
Protection
You've installed a dust collection system that
keeps the large dust particles and shavings out of your way
and also does a good job with the fine dust that makes it
into the system, installed and air filtration system to
continually purify the air in your shop, and you supplement
your dust control system with a portable fine dust
collector. Do you still need
personal respiratory protection? Most experts would say
yes. Below, will take a look at the final step in protecting
respiratory system from fine wood dust, including:
Why Respiratory Protection
Devices are Important
The shop air filtration measures discussed on the last page
of the article are important steps toward protecting your
health from the hazard of fine dust exposure.
Unfortunately, no amount of preventative dust control will
bring the levels of dust in your shop down to a consistently
safe level during periods when you are generating large
quantities of fine dust.
One reason is that the level of
safe exposure to woodworking dust is just too low. The
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), for example, recommends that the presence of fine
dust particles in wood shop air should average no more than
1mg/cubic meter over a 10 hour shop session. Spread out over
a garage-sized shop, 1 mg/cubic meter adds up to less than
1/8 teaspoon of dust for the entire volume of air in the
shop!
Many common woodworking
operations, like sanding, operating a chop saw, or using a
router can overwhelm all of your dust collection measures
and leave you breathing dangerous levels of fine wood dust.
To keep your respiratory system safe during periods of heavy
dust generation, you'll need to round off your fine dust
control regimen with an effective respiratory protection
device. There are a wide range of respiratory devices
available, each of which has its advantages and woodworking
situation in which it works best. Here are a few option to
consider:
 Disposable
Masks
Disposable masks or "dust masks" are among the
most economical and convenient forms of personal respiratory
protection. Disposable masks are best suited to short term
exposure to fine dust, and less effective and comfortable in
long sessions in a dusty shop. A good disposable mask will
filter fine dust particles, but because they are generally
molded to fit the contours of an "average" face, even the
best disposable masks tend to be less comfortable over the
long haul and, in general, provide less of the all
important air seal between your face and the mask, which
is what prevents fine dust particles from circumventing the
mask's filter material and passing directly into the lungs.
Not all dust masks are created
alike. It's important to use a mask that is designed to
actually filter fine dust, such as the MXV
Dust Mask. It features a three layer design that
pre-filters course particles, traps fine particles in the
interior filter, and provides comfortable inner surface
designed designed to prevent fatigue over longer periods of
use.
 Washable
Cloth Masks
Recently,
washable cloth masks have been gaining popularity among
woodworkers. Reusable cloth masks are a little more
expensive than disposable masks, but offer a few features
that many woodworkers believe are worth the extra initial
expense. Most importantly, they're reusable - a quick hand
washing and they are returned to their original filtering
performance and comfort. You can't suddenly discover that
you've "run out" of cloth masks, as often happens with the
disposable variety. Cloth masks are more pliable than
disposable masks, and tend to fit more comfortably for
longer periods than many disposable masks. They work great
for projects that generate a small to moderate amount of
dust - like wood turning or carving - but also keep you
working in one spot for relatively long periods of time.
Power Air Respirators
Power respirators use a battery-powered fan to supply a
continuous stream of pre-filtered air to the interior of the
mask. They're more of an investment than either disposable
masks or reusable cloth masks, but they are also generally
considered a giant step forward in comfort. The fresh stream
of air helps keep the user cool during strenuous work, and
because the mask relies on positive air pressure inside the
mask rather than a tight seal to keep the interior of the
mask free of contaminated air, the power respirator can be
designed to provide a fairly loose, comfortable fit.
Power respirators range in price
and performance from less expensive models that resemble a
standard respirator mask to more advanced systems that
include other features such as a face shield and ear
protection. Power respirators are the "ultimate" in personal
respiratory protection, and the best choice for situations
where a high level of protection and comfort are desirable.
If your work often has you spending long periods in front of
a stationary disc or belt sander, for example, an investment
in this level of personal respiratory protection is not
something you are likely to regret.
Bringing it All Together
In this article, we've focused on presenting a well
rounded approach to protecting yourself and your shop
from wood dust and debris. If you're a hobbyist or weekend
woodworker with a small one person shop, you have certain
advantages: In most cases, you'll only need to collect dust
from one tool at a time. You have less people contributing
to the dust problem in your shop and probably use the shop
for less time each day than a commercial shop normally
would. And, most importantly, you get to decide how much
dust gets produced, when it's time to stop and clean up.
Still, if you are just
beginning to think about getting your dust situation under
control, it can seem like quite a project. If the dust
collection system of your dreams isn't in the picture right
now, consider making a start that you can build upon in the
future. Supplying yourself with adequate personal dust
protection and contenting yourself with a portable dust
collector that you can build into a more permanent set-up in
the future would be a reasonable departure point. When
should you get started? When you consider the risks involved
in letting your shops dust problems go, the only logical
time start getting tough on dust is right now.
|
