Compressed Air Safety - Is Compressed Air Dangerous?

There are many ways in which compressed air can be dangerous. Every year, according to the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS), on average there are 150 dangerous occurrences in the UK. Of which, six result in fatal or severe injury.

Direct contact with compressed air can lead to serious medical conditions for example:

(a) it can enter body orifices such as the mouth, ears and anus, causing severe and often fatal injuries;

(b) at high pressure it can penetrate the skin;

(d) oil-coke deposits in a system can spontaneously ignite and cause an explosion;

(e) vessels containing compressed air, even at comparatively low pressure, can explode violently once their integrity is lost; and

(f) dirty or ‘wet’ air can lead to corrosion and blocked valves which may make the system unsafe.

Knowing the risks of pressurized air or gas is the first step towards ensuring job site and workplace safety. Below we list some but not all of the potential safety issues to be considered when using compressed air.

Messing about- Never point a blowgun at yourself or another person! Absolutely no horseplay. It only takes 12 PSI to blow an eye out of its socket, and 40 PSI can blow out an ear drum from 4 inches away. Air moves faster than you do, don’t let a fatal accident happen by trying to be funny.
Do you work in a dusty environment? Never use it to clean clothing or your hair! Don’t use it to “dust” yourself off. See the risks above.
Know the system limitation and pressure restrictions! As an example, filling car tyres with air can result in an explosion. Pay close attention to the pressure ratings and limitations and always use a gauge to check tire pressure. Hoses and lines are rated for maximum operating pressure too. Check the limitations of equipment before use.
Visually check the conditions of your hoses and airlines before use! Holes, tears, or damaged nozzles can lead to leaks or clogs. These issues can lead to turning the pressure up to an unsafe level to attempt to compensate. Avoid this at all costs. Make sure all equipment is working correctly before use.
Wear the correct PPE! This includes everything from safety glasses w/ side shields, full-face shields, face masks, hearing protection, and sometimes even respiratory protection. Normal work clothing is not sufficient protection against pressurized air.
If you must clean the workspace or equipment with compressed air, do not use air set above 30 PSI. 30 PSI is sufficient for removing dirt and debris, any higher can be a threat to workplace safety.

What are some of the simple things you can do to help reduce the associated risks?

Fit pressure reducers to blowguns to ensure that you can’t go above 30PSI.
Fit air fuses. Designed to protect machinery and personnel, an air fuse is a simple inline device installed in pneumatic systems that responds to issues such as a broken compressor air hose of a damaged pipe. An air fuse responds immediately by shutting off the air should the volume of air exceed a set value. This value is a factory pre-set and is to allow normal air consumption such as the use of air tools etc. If the pneumatic line is damaged the air consumption would rapidly increase causing the air fuse to shut down rapidly.
It is recommended that worm drive clips are not used on flexible hoses. Replace them with crimped fittings such as O-Clips.
Ensure you have a Written Scheme of Examination in place and that’s items are being regularly inspected. Compressors and associated equipment should be installed and maintained correctly to ensure safe operation. System energy audits play a leading role in identifying health and safety risks from the operation of below-standard installations.

Incorrectly specified equipment, air leaks, poorly sized and installed pipework with long runs, excessive bends and fittings can all pose a health and safety risk.

This is just a small blog on some of the problems/safety concerns that may arise with your system.

If you wish to find out any further information or need advice, please follow the link to send us an email at sales@air4ultd.co.uk

Also, why not check out our blog 'What is a Written Scheme of Examination'.

https://www.air4ultd.co.uk/what-is-a-written-scheme-of-examination/