Solution | Cab Filtration System for Heavy Equipment | Construction Solutions

Cab Filtration System for Heavy Equipment

Cab filtration and a pressurization system added to heavy equipment removes silica dust and dust from the air supplied to the cab. 

Risks Addressed:

Operating heavy equipment is a high dust activity that in the absence of controls would place operators at risk of lung disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung scarring, silicosis, renal disease and autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, with prolonged exposure. Silicosis is an incurable, sometimes fatal disease. Such disease is well documented in the Vermont granite quarries and stone cutting sheds, and in construction operations. The NIOSH-recommended exposure limit (REL) for silica is 0.05 mg/m3 as a time-weighted average concentration for up to a 10-hour workday during a 40-hour workweek. This is one-half of the OSHA standard when the dust is pure silica, but still twice the ACGIH-recommended threshold limit value (TLV) of 0.025 mg/m3.  A study on an older enclosed cab used at surface coal mine noted respirable dust in the cab almost 13 times the NIOSH REL (Cecala et al. 2004).


How Risks are Reduced:

 

Cab filtration systems use inertial separators followed by filters to remove particulate, including silica, before they enter the equipment cabin. In addition, some systems are equipped with a second filter to clean the cabin air prior to recirculation, further reducing concentrations in the cab and operator exposure.

 

Availability

NIOSH Workplace Solutions Sheet
The National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) has published a series of “Workplace Solutions”, which are easy-to-understand recommendations from NIOSH research results. Related to this Construction Solution, please find more information on: Reducing Hazardous Dust in Enclosed Operator Cabs During Construction

Sy-Klone International
To obtain information, visit RESPA Kits & Adaptation or contact 1-904-448-6563 sales@sy-klone.com

Clean Air Filter, Co. FPS-50 and FPS950 Series Filtration and Pressurization Systems
To obtain information, visit http://www.cleanairfilter.com or contact 1-712-748-3642 caf@cleanairfilter.com