Industrial curtain wall roles are varied and extensive, depending on your industry’s needs. Industrial curtain wall dust control is one primary example of how useful these tools can be in your workplace. Dust and contaminant control can be a severe threat to health and safety; this article will help define the ways industrial curtains can help.
The Necessity of Dust Prevention
As a business owner, especially in the manufacturing or construction industry, you will find plenty of hazards that you will have to address in your workplace. One of these hazards is dust. While it may seem unassuming at first, dust and other contaminants can be severely dangerous to your employees, your equipment, and your products. From OSHA combustible dust to asbestos, there are many forms of dust and contaminants to take on. This is where dust control curtains become such a valuable asset to you and your facility. Especially when you have an open-concept warehouse, where workspaces are connected and people are operating close to each other, dust prevention becomes even more valuable to protect every worker from harm, not just a select few.
The Dangers of Dust In Manufacturing Plants
Industrial curtain wall dust control is extremely important in manufacturing plants because of the severity of dust as a hazardous material. Here are a few types of dust that you may see in your workplace:
- Food particles
- Wood
- Cement or concrete
- Paint powder
- Pharmaceuticals
- Plastic, stone, or chemicals
Every kind of dust becomes a hazard to your employees because it can get into people’s eyes, nose, and mouth and become severely irritating. Additionally, if dust is inhaled, it can cause damage to a person’s lungs or even cause a higher risk of cancer. Additionally, some kinds of dust are combustible and can cause fires or even explosions within the workplace. Preventing these types of dangers is essential to the safety of your workers and your facility.
Wood Dust in Construction
Wood dust is a specific type of dust that calls for contaminant control curtains. It is specifically a concern within the construction industry, where wood is being constantly cut, shaved, drilled, and more. Wood dust is considered a carcinogen and has also been shown to cause asthma.
In addition to these health hazards, when large amounts of wood dust accumulate across your facility floor or in corners without proper safety protocols, they can be highly flammable and even cause explosions. Dust explosions can be a significant and even lethal threat to workers; when dust is under too much pressure in its conditions, then spread through the air and ignited, the explosive reaction can be absolutely devastating.
Dust Control Curtains and Preventative Measures
Industrial curtain wall dust control is an excellent way to prevent dust explosions, excess dirt and tripping hazards, and health concerns for your workers. Here are just a few of the ways that industrial curtains can assist in containment and safety:
- Fireproof: In the event of a dust explosion or ignition, industrial curtains are fireproof and strong enough to prevent an explosion from spreading too far. This helps keep everyone on the other side of the curtains safe from harm.
- Wall-Like: Industrial curtains serve the same purpose as walls, creating separate workspaces through your open workspace. Curtains drop to the floor and create a tight seal so dust particles from any contained space will not spread to other areas of your facility.
- Privacy: Curtains can help with noise reduction, preventing harmful noise from affecting your workers; additionally, partitioned areas can offer a safe and calming place for workers to take a break and recover from the labor at hand or even receive first-aid treatment in case of an incident.
Contaminants in the Food Industry
Industrial curtain wall roles do not just apply to manufacturing and construction industries, as dust and other contaminants can also be a serious issue within the food industry. Here are just a few food contaminants, most of which are combustible, to be aware of that may call for industrial curtain use:
- Grain
- Flour
- Cornstarch
- Sugar
- Soybeans
- Flavoring additives
In addition to combustible dust, there are a variety of other contaminants that are important to keep away from food products, such as toxic fumes, bacteria, and more.
Contaminant Control Curtains for Food Industries
As shown above, when it comes to industrial curtain walls, dust control is essential for food industries as well. Industrial curtains can be used to create hygienic zones between different stages of food processing. Bacteria from raw food products can be severely dangerous when they interact with processed or cooked food, so these curtains can serve as a preventative measure in protecting finished food products. These curtains can also be incredibly helpful in protecting food products from dust at the end of the process when they are being packaged for shipping and distribution.
Temperature control is also important in preventing harmful bacteria in the food industry; industrial curtains can help retain temperature and keep your cold rooms cold.
Industrial Curtain Walls Roles in Energy Efficiency and Saving Costs
Dust control curtains can do far more than simply control dust. Protecting your employees, products, and equipment is absolutely a priority and a principal feature of industrial curtains. However, this is not all your curtains can do for you. These curtains are also helpful when it comes to energy efficiency and saving costs.
One role of industrial curtains that we have touched on before is their use in containment. These curtains are able to prevent dust and debris from spreading beyond a certain point. This also makes cleanup costs far lower; when your entire warehouse floor is not covered with dust, it takes a much shorter time to clean! You can reduce labor costs and keep your warehouse operating more efficiently.
Stay Safe With Singer
With industrial curtain walls, dust control has become a much more manageable issue. Contaminant control curtains prevent health risks, product damage, and more. At Singer Safety, we are dedicated to helping your industry stay safe. Our curtains are a perfect way to do so.
Contact us today for the first step in dust control safety.
