In hazardous area safety, attention naturally focuses on production equipment, fixed machinery and systems processes. But what about the equipment being used to clean and maintain these environments?

Good housekeeping is crucial when managing combustible dust and other hazardous substances. Even with effective extraction at source, dust can escape and settle on machinery, pipework, floors, ledges, lighting and other difficult to reach areas. Solid and liquid spills can also occur during production, material handling and maintenance operations; how that material is removed is vitally important.

Brian Folland, Product Manager for UK manufactured Kerstar industrial vacuum cleaners, elaborates, “As the HSE has highlighted, sweeping or using compressed air can disrupt settled dust and redistribute it into the atmosphere, causing a hazard to health.

“Using an appropriately certified industrial vacuum cleaner in hazardous areas provides a controlled method of dust collection and choosing the right equipment is essential. An ATEX certified vacuum is not automatically suitable for every hazardous environment - equipment must be appropriate for the zone it will operate in and the material being collected.

“For combustible dust this includes Dust Zones 21 & 22, while Gas Zones 1 & 2 apply to atmospheres where potentially explosive gas or vapour are present. The potential ignition sources, frequency of use and characteristics of the dust that needs removing should all be considered when specifying cleaning equipment.

“Static electricity in the atmosphere is another important consideration. Conductive construction, suitable accessories and effective earthing can help provide a controlled path for electrical charges.

“For engineers and operators, the main questions they should be asking when selecting suitable cleaning equipment are simple: What am I collecting? Where am I collecting it? If it’s potentially explosive, what ATEX zone will the equipment be used in?

Kerstar, now part of Filtermist Limited, manufactures and supplies a wide range of industrial vacuum cleaners in the UK. Its product portfolio includes ATEX rated vacuums suitable for use in Dust Zones 21 & 22 available as electric or compressed air powered models.

If you need help selecting the best industrial vacuum cleaner for your specific requirement, take a look at www.kerstar.com or contact the Kerstar team by calling 01952 290500.