Wiping away hazards
October 1st 2008 How can a wiping system help to improve safety in the workshop? SCA Tissue
Europe's Mark Riley considers modern innovations such as colour-coded cloths and
pre-moistened wipes and looks at these and other, safer alternatives to rags
Carrying out cleaning tasks in an industrial workshop or factory
is a potentially hazardous business. Solvents and other
chemicals used for cleaning can represent all kinds of health
risks.There is the also the risk of solvent spills that can result in slips
and falls.And food factory cleaning carries with it the risk of crosscontamination,
which could lead to product spoilage and eventually
food poisoning on the part of the consumer.
Traditional wiping products for cleaning in industry tend to be rags
or laundered cloths used in conjunction with solvents and other
strong chemicals. Solvents are often required to clean oil and grease
away from plant and equipment in a heavy industrial environment.
However, solvents produce toxic chemical compounds that can cause
eczema and hamper the body's ability to produce new blood cells.
Other problems associated with solvents include eye irritation,
headaches and nausea as well as more serious conditions such as
chronic kidney inflammation, heart disease and damage to the liver;
lung cancer, bladder cancer and testicular cancer. Industrial managers
should therefore take precautions to minimise employee contact
with solvents. For example, staff should be provided with protective
clothing such as gloves, apron, goggles or a face shield as well as
respiratory protection.
Rag trade
The rags and laundered cloths used to apply the solvent can be a
potential health hazard themselves. Laundered cloths may contain
metal shavings from lathing operations that can injure the hands, as
well as residual oils and chemicals that can cause skin rashes. Rags,
too,may contain hidden 'extras' such as zips and other metal
fasteners that can snag the skin. Solvent-soaked rags left lying
around the shop floor should also be avoided since these carry an
inhalation risk. For this reason, industrial managers should choose
efffective wipers that efficiently release solvents back on to the
wiping surface.
Some rags are made from cloths that soak up the solvent but then
retain it within the material, where it is allowed to give off harmful
fumes.Non-woven wipers such as Tork Premium 530 have been
designed to absorb large quantities of solvent and to release it
efficiently back on to the working surface, reducing the amount of
solvent left behind in the wiper.
Thorough handwashing should take place after working with
solvents, particularly before smoking or eating. Smoking, too, should
be completely avoided when using solvents since toxic gases may be
given off.
Open containers of solvents and detergents are another potential
hazard in a factory or workshop. Besides the risk of spillage, some of
the cleaning compound will be evaporated into the atmosphere
where it may be inhaled by staff.Any unnecessary evaporation of
solvents should be prevented by keeping lids on containers and by
using sealed containers for solvent-contaminated waste.
There are cleaning systems on the market today that prevent the
health and safety risks of carrying around open buckets of
disinfectant or detergent.Tork Premium Precision Cleaning cloths, for
example, are now available in roll format in the portable Handy
Bucket. Operatives can fill the Handy Bucket with the appropriate
detergent or disinfectant for the task in hand.The bucket is then
resealed and the wipes inside are moistened and ready for use.
Taking precautions
There are other sensible health and safety precautions that should be
made wherever solvents are in use. For example, premises should be
adequately ventilated and staff encouraged to report any damaged
or defective ventilation equipment to their employer.
In a food or healthcare environment, potential health problems
can arise when the same wiper is used to clean two or more surfaces.
For example, a food surface that has been used for preparing raw
meat should not be wiped by the same cloth that will later be used
for wiping utensils.This could lead to cross-contamination.Colourcoded
cloths such as Tork Premium Specialist colour-coded cloths are
a good idea in this situation.These allow staff to link each wiping task
or surface with a specific colour, and the new regime quickly
becomes the accepted routine.
Employers have a duty under the Control of Substances Hazardous
to Health Regulations to prevent employees from coming into
contact with substances that are hazardous to health. And with
hygiene and safety both prominent issues today, any risk of spills or
cross contamination in the workshop should be avoided wherever
possible.
By supplying safe, effective wipers for industrial and food
environments, the factory manager is helping to minimise any
potential danger to staff.And cleaning and wiping tasks become a
great deal safer as a result. More articles from SCA Tissue Europe: | 
