Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) For Dry, Wet, And Vapor Abrasive Blasting

Less Dust Does Not Mean Less PPE

When dry blasting first became popular, many operators employed just a face shield to keep the dust out of their eyes. With the amount of dust in the air, however, it quickly became clear that respiratory issues could become a concern, and standards were set to require respirators when dry blasting.

Compared to dry blasting, wet and vapor abrasive blasting reduces dust significantly, causing people to question whether or not a respirator is required. However, any blasting operation will create some dust, whether from the substrate being blasted or the media used for the blasting. Even if a small amount of media is being used, there could be kickback from the surface.

Less dust still requires protective gear, particularly if the dust might contain hazardous materials like asbestos or lead.

Face Shields And Eye Protection

Face shields are generally integrated into loose-fitting respirators, and thus operators using those respirators do not need a secondary face shield.

However, other individuals on the site should use alternative eye protection such as safety glasses or a face shield.

Hearing Protection

Hearing protection, which can be included in a loose-fitting respirator or as an addition to a tight-fitting respirator, is necessary when working around blasting equipment, which runs at a high frequency with high decibels, and compressors, which can be very loud as well.

Depending on the respirator in use, it may come equipped with a communication system in the helmet, making it easy for operators to communicate without removing the respirator and hearing protection. It’s important that everyone working nearby on the job site use ear plugs or other hearing protection.

Respirators are an important piece of equipment for any blaster, as they help keep dust in the air from entering the lungs, which could lead to breathing problems. The blasting market is becoming much more conscious of operator safety and ensuring each operator has the appropriate equipment. PPE helps protect workers on the job so they can get home to enjoy a healthy life. By keeping operators safe and healthy on the job, they can be free to live without concerns of hearing loss, respiratory attacks or other health issues.

PPE For Dry, Wet, And Vapor Abrasive Blasting

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