rubber dust, how hazardest????

[tewitt1949]

Hi All. This is my first post here and I'm not even sure if I'm in the right area.
My question is I'm a machinest and I run a lathe where I do a lot of rubber grinding. Although we do have a vaccume that gets most of the fine rubber dust, is rubber dust much of a health hazzard?? I realize the body shouldn't inhale any foreign particle, but sometimes it can't be helped and Just wondering how bad it is comapred to other types of dust. Thanks Terry

 

[GrahamBennett]

Terry, you're in the right area.

Rubber dust can be hazardous especially if inhaled. However, by far the worst is inhaling any smoke you generate during the buffing process. Wear a good quality face mask - perferably one with activated charcoal filters - and make sure the extraction system is working at its highest level.

 

[tewitt1949]

Thanks GB. Do you or anyone else know what kind of medical problems rubber dust cause. I don't think I'm breathing much dust because if I blow my nose its not black with dust. I've started having medical problems but I don't know it they are rubber dust related or not. Thanks in advance, Terry

 

[GrahamBennett]

Just because you have not seen any dust when you blow your nose, doesn't mean to say you are not inhaling it. Whether inhaled dust is a problem depends on the polymer and other ingredients used to make the parts you are grinding and how much smoke you are inhaling at the same time.

You should be wearing a good facemask and goggles as a minimum when operating your lathe. Do not forget also that good levels of personal hygene and cleanliness are needed too.