Highway Sweepers with Wet Dust Suppression

Mechanical and air highway sweepers with wet dust suppression reduce the level of airborne dust generated.

Description:

Highway or street sweepers are used to remove trash, debris, dust and dirt from roads of all sizes, sidewalks, airport runways, parking lots, construction sites and other paved surfaces. Sweepers are often classified as mechanical or air sweepers. Mechanical or broom sweepers use rotating brooms to move debris toward a cylindrical broom at the center of the machine. The cylindrical broom transfers debris onto a conveyor that leads to a storage hopper. Air or vacuum sweepers use rotating brooms to move debris toward the center of the machine where it is picked up with a vacuum and transported to a storage hopper. 

Removing dust and silica from roadways and other surfaces reduces the potential for future exposure to airborne dust and silica but sweeping generates airborne dust which may contain crystalline silica and creates a hazard for everyone in the vicinity. Wetting debris during the removal process reduces airborne dust and silica during and immediately following sweeping. Mechanical and air highway sweepers are available with wet dust suppression.

Nite-Hawk Sweepers NH 400-DX street sweeper

  • Used for sweeping parking lots and streets
  • Cost: $55,000 to $62,000 (depending on options selected)
  • Engine: 4HK1-TC, 5.191 liters, turbo diesel
    • Horsepower: 205
  • Curb weight: 7,800 pounds (GVWR:12,000 pounds)
  • Water system
    • Buyer selects number of nozzles and placement
    • Typical setup: 10 nozzles - 5 on front bumper, 2 on vacuum head and 3 on broom
    • Hollow cone spray nozzles, 0.1 gallons per minute
    • Electric pump: 2.8 gallons per minute
    • Water tank capacity: 50 gallons (optional 100 gallon tank)
  • Sweeping path: 81 inches
  • Gutter broom
    • 16 inches in diameter, 13 inches in length
  • Debris hopper capacity: 4 cubic yards of material

Nite-Hawk Sweepers NH 200-XLP street sweeper

  • Used for sweeping parking lots and streets
  • Cost: $45,000 to $55,000 (depending on options selected)
  • Engine: Vortec 6.0 liter SFI V8
    • Horsepower: 353 horsepower
  • Curb weight: 6,100 pounds (GVWR: 9,200 pounds)
  • Water system
    • Buyer selects number or nozzles and placement
    • Typical setup: 10 nozzles - 5 on front bumper, 2 on vacuum head and 3 on broom
    • Hollow cone spray nozzles, 0.1 gallons per minute
    • Electric pump: 2.8 gallons per minute
    • Water tank capacity: 30 gallons (optional larger tank)
  • Sweeping path: 86 inches
  • Gutter broom
    • 16 inches in diameter, 9.5 inches in length
  • Debris hopper capacity: 2 cubic yards of material

Elgin Pelican P Three Wheel Broom Sweeper

  • Used for sweeping streets
  • Cost: call for a quote
  • Engine: John Deere 4045TF150, 4.5 liters, 4 cylinder, diesel
    • 99 horsepower at 2,500 RPM
  • Weight: 13,600 pounds (with one side broom)
  • SCAQMD Rule 1186 certified for its ability to remove typical urban street loadings and limit the amount of PM10 entrained in the air during the sweeping process
  • Water spray system
    • Capacity: 220 gallon tank
    • Atomizing spray nozzles adjacent each broom
  • Sweeping path: 8 feet (10 feet with a second gutter/side broom)
  • Main broom: 35 inches in diameter, 66 inches long
  • Gutter broom: 36 inches in diameter
  • Debris hopper capacity: 3.6 cubic yards of material

Elgin Road Wizard Broom Sweeper

  • Used for sweeping parking lots and streets
  • Cost: call for a quote
  • Sweeping system engine: John Deere 4045, 4.5 liters, 4 cylinder, diesel
    • 80 horsepower at 2,500 RPM
  • Weight: 20,300 pounds (empty)
  • SCAQMD Rule 1186 certified for its ability to remove typical urban street loadings and limit the amount of PM10 entrained in the air during the sweeping process
  • Water spray system
    • Capacity: 340 gallon tank
    • Two pumps, 3 gallons per minute
    • 12 spray nozzles; 6 on front bumper, 3 on each gutter broom and 3 on main broom
  • Sweeping path: 10 feet (with a both gutter/side brooms)
  • Main broom: 35 inches in diameter, 60 inches long
  • Gutter broom: 44 inches in diameter
  • Debris hopper capacity: 5.45 cubic yards

Elgin Crosswind Fury Air Sweeper

  • Used for sweeping streets
  • Cost: call for a quote
  • Sweeping system engine: John Deere 4024TF270, 4 cylinder, turbocharged diesel
    • 60 horsepower
  • Weight: 17,950 pounds, chassis rated at
  • SCAQMD Rule 1186 certified for its ability to remove typical urban street loadings and limit the amount of PM10 entrained in the air during the sweeping process
  • Water spray system
    • Capacity: 105 gallon tank (additional 92 gallon tank is optional)
    • Optional front spray bar
  • Sweeping path:
    • 80 inches with pick-up head
    • 105 inches with pick-up head and one side broom
    • 130 inches with pick-up head and two side brooms
  • Side/gutter brooms: 36 inches in diameter
  • Debris hopper capacity: 4.4 cubic yards

Elgin GeoVac Air Sweeper

  • Used for sweeping streets
  • Cost: call for a quote
  • Sweeping system engine: John Deere 4045 Tier II, 4 cylinder, turbocharged diesel
    • 99 horsepower at 2,500 RPM
  • SCAQMD Rule 1186 certified for its ability to remove typical urban street loadings and limit the amount of PM10 entrained in the air during the sweeping process
  • Water spray system
    • Capacity: 330 gallon tank
    • Pump: 5 gallons per minute, 40 pounds per square inch
    • Spray nozzles: 7 inside each suction nozzle, 4 at extension broom and 2 at each side broom
    • Optional front spray bar
  • Sweeping path:
    • 30 inches with suction nozzle
    • 50 inches with suction nozzle and one side broom
    • 83 inches with suction nozzle and extension broom
    • 102 inches with suction, side and extension broom
  • Suction nozzle: 30 inches wide
  • Side brooms: 28 inches in diameter
  • Extension broom: 60 inches long, 16 inches in diameter
  • Debris hopper capacity: 8.0 cubic yards
  • Designed for low in-cab and drive-by noise levels

Risks Addressed:

Highway sweeping is a high dust activity that, in the absence of controls, would place workers at risk of lung disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung scarring and silicosis with prolonged exposure. Silicosis is an incurable, sometimes fatal disease. 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.

 

How Risks are Reduced:

 

Mechanical or broom sweepers and air or vacuum sweepers remove dust and silica from roadways and other surfaces and reduce the potential for future exposure to airborne dust and silica in the process. Sweepers with wet dust suppression reduce worker and bystander exposure to airborne dust and silica by spraying water on the work surface and debris during collection. Wetting dust and silica makes it heavier and prevents it from becoming airborne during and immediately following collection. 

 

 

Using water will visibly suppress dust, but the extent that it reduces the small, respirable particles is unclear, without additional testing. Although exposure will not be reduced to zero, substantial reduction is expected. This is dependent on the amount of water used, the location of the spray nozzles, the water spray pattern, frequency and duration with which the water spray system is used, how effectively it prevents suspension of particles in the air, the nature and amount of work and the extent to which workers are exposed to resuspended dust after it dries. While there is no published sampling data on these specific tools, evidence indicates exposure to respirable silica can be significantly reduced through the use of wet methods.
 
Elgin states that the water spray system on its Crosswind Fury air sweeper “effectively suppresses dust during sweeping.”

 

Effects on Productivity:

 

Highway sweepers with wet dust suppression are expected to increase productivity by reducing the time and effort required to adequately control airborne dust. Reducing airborne dust levels avoids exposing other workers, members of the public, adjacent property, cars and building occupants, which can increase liability and time-consuming disputes. Improved worker comfort is a result of reduced airborne dust which may in turn result in less fatigue for the worker and greater productivity.

 

Additional Considerations:

 

An increasing number of municipalities and regional air pollution control districts mandate the use of highway sweepers that have passed particulate matter collection efficiency testing. 
 
The use of water controls may result in wet and slippery ground and walking surfaces. During cold weather this may lead to the formation of ice and an increased risk of slips and trips. Debris that is not removed from the work area while wet may become airborne once dried, posing an inhalation hazard to anyone in the area. Maintaining a work area free of debris and excess water reduces the risk of these hazards.
 
The use of gasoline and diesel-powered sweepers and other equipment poses the risk of carbon monoxide exposure, particularly in areas where airflow is reduced. Steps to control exposure are important because the gas is invisible, odorless and tasteless. Poisoning by carbon monoxide can occur quickly indoors, but working outdoors does not ensure operators won’t be overcome. Small, inexpensive personal monitors should be worn by the operator to warn of unacceptable exposures. Equipment should not be left idling to cut down on carbon monoxide and to conserve fuel.
 
Highway sweepers may generate sound levels that are greater than 90 decibels, the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), and hazardous. An industrial hygienist should conduct noise monitoring and determine controls and hearing protection is not required.
 
As is the case with any construction equipment, users should follow manufacturer safety recommendations and comply with any applicable local, state or federal regulations.

 

Hazards Addressed:

Availability

Nite-Hawk Sweepers
To obtain information, visit http://www.nitehawksweepers.com or contact 1-800-448-9364 info@nitehawksweepers.com

Elgin Highway Sweepers
To obtain information, visit http://www.elginsweeper.com or contact 1-847-741-5370 sales@elginsweeper.com

Return on Investment

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