Introducing tools and technologies to support exposure-control
plans
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) today announced a series of solutions
designed to help businesses implement housekeeping plans to support the
control of potentially dangerous silica dust, and respond to OSHA’s
Silica Dust Rule that requires compliance by June 23, 2017, in the
construction industry and June 23, 2018, in general industry.
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Tennant’s S30 Rider Sweeper with HEPA filtration helps clean in heavy-dust environments. (Photo: Business Wire)
Crystalline silica is a mineral that is commonly occurring in many
natural materials that are used in construction and industrial products.
Crystalline silica becomes hazardous when certain activities generate
respirable dust that becomes airborne. Stone and mortar, concrete and
sand contain crystalline silica. It is used to create glass, artificial
stone, ceramics, pottery and bricks, as well as industrial sand used in
fracking and foundry work. Because it appears in so many different
products across a variety of industries, an estimated 2.3 million
workers in the U.S. are exposed to it.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, under the purview of
the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that a person who is
exposed to respirable crystalline silica has an increased risk of
developing lung cancer. It has been designated a known human carcinogen
by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toxicology Program. These
determinations, combined with the numerous supporting studies, have
prompted OSHA’s rule to limit the permissible exposure level (PEL) to 50
micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air,
averaged over an eight-hour day, in an effort to better protect the
health of workers in the affected industries.
Tennant Solutions
Tennant
Company has assembled a wide range of silica
dust solutions specifically engineered and manufactured to support
OSHA silica dust control housekeeping requirements and help businesses
work toward OSHA compliance:
-
Wet Sweeping is effective in most applications. Several Tennant
rider-sweepers can be used for wet sweeping. A continual water spray
provides a shield of moisture on side brushes to keep the silica dust
moist until it is swept up and contained within the hopper.
-
Water Flooding is a very effective means of silica dust control
in certain applications. All Tennant scrubbers, including walk-behind
and ride-on machines, can be used for water flooding. Tennant
scrubbers use water to contain and prevent silica dust from becoming
airborne, then remove the wet dust from floor surfaces.
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Dry Sweeping with HEPA Filtration is an OSHA-allowable solution
in applications where other methods, such as wet sweeping or HEPA
vacuums, are not feasible. Several Tennant walk-behind and ride-on
sweepers are available with HEPA filtration systems. These Tennant
sweepers operate with a dry system that provides a filtration
efficiency of 99.97% to 0.3 microns. They utilize existing multi-stage
Tennant filtration systems, adding a final-stage HEPA system to
collect and contain smaller particles. For additional operator
protection, HEPA-pressurized cabs are available on select models.
“Tennant Company is committed to providing viable solutions for
industrial housekeeping challenges and equipment that make workplaces
healthier,” said Dave Huml, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing
for Tennant Company. “We are committed to protecting the health and
safety of our customers’ employees, as well as helping our customers
maintain OSHA compliance.”
Key dates for the OSHA compliance schedule include:
-
Construction - June 23, 2017.
-
General Industry and Maritime - June 23, 2018.
-
Hydraulic Fracturing (Engineering Controls) - June 23,
2021.
Company Profile
Minneapolis-based
Tennant Company (TNC) is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and
marketing solutions that empower customers to achieve quality cleaning
performance, significantly reduce their environmental impact and help
create a cleaner, safer, healthier world. Its products include equipment
for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor
environments; detergent-free and other sustainable cleaning
technologies; and coatings for protecting, repairing and upgrading
surfaces. Tennant's global field service network is the most extensive
in the industry. Tennant has manufacturing operations in Minneapolis,
MN; Holland, MI; Louisville, KY; Chicago, IL; Uden, The Netherlands; São
Paulo, Brazil; and Shanghai, China; and sells products directly in 15
countries and through distributors in more than 80 countries. For more
information, visit www.tennantco.com.
The Tennant Company logo and other trademarks designated with the symbol
“®” are trademarks of Tennant Company registered in the United States
and/or other countries.
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Source: Tennant Company