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Safety Protocol 001: Abrasive Blasting Safety Procedures

Protocol ID: U10M1-SAFE-001

Potential Hazards

Respiratory Hazards

  • Airborne particulates: All abrasive blasting generates respirable dust, including spent media fragments and substrate particles
  • Silicosis risk: Crystalline silica dust (from quartz sand) causes irreversible lung disease. Traditional silica sand blasting is prohibited in this facility
  • Metal fumes/dust: Blasting painted surfaces may release lead, cadmium, or chromium particles
  • Organic dust: Walnut shell and corn cob media can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals

Physical Hazards

  • High-pressure air: Cabinet systems operate at 40–100 PSI; direct contact with pressurized stream causes skin abrasion, eye injury, or air injection injury
  • Noise exposure: Blast cabinets produce 85–110 dBA; hearing protection required above 85 dBA
  • Flying debris: Media ricochets and escapes through worn cabinet seals
  • Sharp edges: Freshly blasted metal surfaces have micro-sharp profiles
  • Electrical: Blast cabinet lighting, dust collector motors, and compressed air systems require proper grounding

Chemical Hazards

  • Substrate coatings: Old paint may contain lead (pre-1978), cadmium, or hexavalent chromium
  • Dust collector contents: Spent media mixed with substrate contaminants may be classified as hazardous waste
  • Compressed air moisture: Moisture in air lines causes flash rust and promotes bacterial growth in standing water

Required Precautions & Procedures

Before Blasting

  1. Inspect blast cabinet for worn gloves, cracked viewing window, and damaged seals
  2. Verify dust collector is operational — check differential pressure gauge (replace filters when ΔP exceeds manufacturer specification)
  3. Check compressed air supply: drain moisture from tank and lines
  4. Verify media type matches project requirements — never mix media types
  5. Inspect workpiece for unknown coatings. If lead paint is suspected, stop and test with LeadCheck swab before proceeding
  6. Ensure adequate ventilation — cabinet exhaust must vent to exterior or through HEPA filtration

During Blasting

  1. Keep cabinet door/lid fully closed and sealed during operation
  2. Maintain hands in blast gloves at all times — never bypass glove ports
  3. Never exceed recommended operating pressure for media type
  4. Take breaks every 15–20 minutes to prevent fatigue-related accidents
  5. If visibility decreases, stop and check dust collector function

After Blasting

  1. Allow dust to settle for 30 seconds before opening cabinet
  2. Remove workpiece with gloves — freshly blasted surfaces cut skin
  3. Clean cabinet interior — remove spent media from dead zones
  4. Empty dust collector bin when 75% full
  5. Inspect cabinet gloves and window for wear; report damage immediately

Emergency Response

Dust Inhalation

  1. Move affected person to fresh air immediately
  2. If breathing is difficult, administer supplemental oxygen if trained
  3. Call 911 if respiratory distress persists
  4. Report incident to facility supervisor and document exposure

Eye Contamination

  1. Flush eyes with eyewash station for minimum 15 minutes
  2. Do not rub eyes — abrasive particles will cause corneal abrasion
  3. Seek medical attention after flushing
  4. Report incident and identify root cause (cabinet seal failure, improper PPE)

Air Injection Injury

  1. High-pressure air penetrating skin is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY
  2. Do not dismiss as minor — compressed air under skin can cause embolism or gangrene
  3. Call 911 immediately
  4. Do not apply pressure to injection site
  5. Transport to hospital emergency room — inform staff of air injection mechanism

Skin Contact with Hazardous Dust

  1. Brush off loose particles (do not blow with compressed air)
  2. Wash affected area with soap and water for 5 minutes
  3. If coating contained lead or other heavy metals, follow facility hazmat decontamination procedure
  4. Document exposure for occupational health records

PPE Requirements

PPE Item Specification When Required
Safety glasses ANSI Z87.1 rated, side shields Always in blast area
Respiratory protection N95 minimum; P100 half-face for extended work During and after blasting
Hearing protection NRR 25+ earplugs or earmuffs During blasting operations
Blast gloves Heavy-duty leather or cabinet-mounted rubber gloves During blasting
Long sleeves Cotton or Nomex, no synthetic fabrics During blasting
Closed-toe shoes Steel-toe preferred, leather upper Always in blast area
Nitrile gloves Disposable, for handling blasted parts After blasting

Last Updated: 2026-03-19