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Dirty worker clothing has been identified as a source of exposure to respirable dust. If this respirable dust contains silica it may cause the inhaler to develop Silicosis, an irreversible lung disease. NIOSH and Unimin Corporation, the largest manufacturer of silica sand in the United States, have developed a new method for cleaning dusty work clothes.
The booth at the heart of the system was first conceived at Unimin's Marston, NC facility for cleaning tools; however, the idea of using it to clean clothes quickly followed. NIOSH researchers calculated air volume and exhaust required; tested several manifold designs and air nozzles, and ultimately produced a system that is 10 times faster and 50% more effective than methods currently used. This process also overcomes some perceived hurdles of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) approved HEPA vacuuming method currently used: that it is too time consuming (takes about 5 minutes) and that many areas are hard to reach (e.g., center of back, shoulders).
The process involves a worker wearing appropriate personal protective equipment:
- Entering a booth under negative pressure
- Turning open a valve which releases air through 27 air nozzles
- Rotating once or twice in under 30 seconds
- Exiting the booth with clean clothes
This Clothes Cleaning Process is not currently approved by MSHA. To implement this technique, a 101 Petition for Modification must be submitted and approved.
| Author(s): | NIOSH |
| Reference: | NIOSH 2004; :1-16 |
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