Highway Milling Machines with Wet Dust Suppression

Highway milling machines with water spray systems control the airborne dust generated when grinding and removing pavement.

Description:

Highway milling machines use a rotating drum with teeth to grind and remove asphalt or concrete pavement prior to repair or replacement. The machines often employ a conveyor to move debris into a truck for transport to disposal or recycling facilities. Removing and conveying asphalt or concrete pavement generates a large amount of dust that may contain crystalline silica and creates a hazard for everyone in the vicinity.

Water spray systems are the most common method of controlling dust generated by highway milling machines. These controls use a pump to deliver water to the milling surface and to the conveyor where it combines with dust and silica particles and reduces airborne levels. Adding moisture to the material will also reduce the amount of dust produced downstream.

 

If properly designed, maintained and used, water spray systems may significantly reduce exposures near milling machines.  This may reduce exposures enough that a respiratory protection program isn’t required.  Continuous use may exceed the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit, even with the use of wet dust suppression, however.

CPWR and the National Asphalt Pavement Association has produced a Field Guide for Controlling Silica Dust Exposure on Asphalt Pavement Milling Machines.

NIOSH has produced Best Practice Engineering Control Guidelines to Control Worker Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica during Asphalt Pavement Milling outlining measures to reduce worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

 

Volvo MT2000 Milling Machine

  • Used for mill and fill or full depth removal of parking lots, city streets, county roads, shoulders, highways and airports
  • Cost: call for a quote
  • Engine: Cummins QSX-15, 6 cylinder, 610 horsepower
  • Selectable engine speeds: 1,900 RPM (standard), 2,300 RPM (high speed) and 1,500 RPM (deep cut)
  • Milling depth: 0 to 14 inches
  • Cutting width: 78.75 inches (model with 86-inch drum is available)
  • Conveyor capacity: up to 1,330 cubic yards per hour
  • Operating weight: 80,930 pounds (full fuel, full water and 175 pound operator)
  • Water spray system
    • Water supplied to each conveyor and the drum
    • Nozzles can be adjusted independently to match rate of work
    • Water capacity: 920 gallons

Volvo MW500 Milling Machine

  • Used for smaller milling jobs such as patching, joints, trenching and close cutting around street and roadway obstructions
  • Cost: call for a quote
  • Engine: Deutz TCD 2012 liquid-cooled diesel engine, 127 horsepower at 2,300 RPM
  • Working speed: 115 feet per minute
  • Milling depth: 0 to 8.3 inches
  • Cutting width: 19.7 inches
  • Conveyor capacity: up to 104.6 cubic yards per hour
  • Operating weight: 21,020 pounds (full fuel, full water and 175 pound operator)
  • Water spray system
    • Water supplied via a spray bar in the drum housing
    • Water capacity: 158 gallons
  • Ergonomic operator station with adjustable control panel and steering wheel column

Dynapac PL350T Planer/Milling Machine

  • Used for partial repairs of asphalt and concrete pavements and removing of surfaces in buildings
  • Cost: contact Dynapac for a quote
  • Engine: Cummins B3.3-C60, 4 cylinders, diesel, 60 horsepower at 2,200 RPM
  • Working speed: 0 to 82 feet per minute
  • Milling depth: up to 3.9 inches
  • Cutting widths: 13.7 inches
  • Operating weight: 6,170 pounds
  • Water spray system
    • 4 spray nozzles
    • 2.5 gallons per minute
    • Water capacity: 75 gallons

Dynapac PL500TD Planer/Milling Machine

  • Used for removing asphalt or concrete pavements, cutting around man hole covers and road maintenance jobs
  • Cost: contact Dynapac for a quote
  • Engine: Cummins QSB4.5-C130, 4 cylinders, diesel, 130 horsepower at 2,200 RPM
  • Working speed: 0 to 79 feet per minute
  • Milling depth: up to 7.9 inches
  • Cutting widths: 19.7 inches
  • Operating weight: 17,860 pounds
  • Water spray system
    • 6 spray nozzles
    • 5 gallons per minute
    • Water capacity: 132 gallons

Dynapac PL2000S Planer/Milling Machine

  • Used for removing asphalt and concrete pavement
  • Cost: contact Dynapac for a quote
  • Engine: Cummins QSX 15, 6 cylinders, diesel, 600 horsepower at 2,100 RPM
  • Working speed: 0 to 131 feet per minute
  • Milling depth: up to 12.6 inches
  • Cutting widths: 79.1 inches
  • Operating weight: 73,900 pounds
  • Water spray system
    • 13 spray nozzles (additional nozzles optional)
    • 40 gallons per minute
    • Water capacity: 980 gallons

Dynapac PL2100S Planer/Milling Machine

  • Used for removing asphalt and concrete pavement
  • Cost: contact Dynapac for a quote
  • Engine: Cummins QSX 15, 6 cylinders, diesel, 600 horsepower at 2,100 RPM
  • Working speed: 0 to 131 feet per minute
  • Milling depth: up to 12.6 inches
  • Cutting widths: 82.7 inches
  • Operating weight: 74,700 pounds
  • Water spray system
    • 13 spray nozzles (additional nozzles optional)
    • 40 gallons per minute
    • Water capacity: 980 gallons

BOMAG BM1000/30, BM1200/30 and BM1300/30 Milling Machines

  • Used for average sized pavement milling projects
  • Cost: approximately $365,000
  • Engine: CAT C7, 6 cylinder, diesel, 275 horsepower
  • Selectable engine speeds: 1,900 RPM (standard), 2,300 RPM (high speed) and 1,500 RPM (deep cut)
  • Working speed: 0 to 92 feet per minute
  • Milling depth: 0 to 12.6 inches
  • Cutting widths: 39.6 / 47.2 / 51.2 inches (models BM1000/30, BM1200/30 and BM1300/30)
  • Conveyor capacity: up to 1,330 cubic yards per hour
  • Operating weights: 42,300 to 43,300 pounds (with full fuel tanks)
  • Water spray system
    • 10 spray nozzles; 8 on the drum and 2 on the conveyor
    • Two pumps, adjustable up to 12 gallons per minute
    • Water capacity: 264 gallons

BOMAG BM2000/50 and BM2000/60 Milling Machines

  • Used for average to large pavement milling projects
  • Cost: $460,000 to $500,000
  • Engine: Deutz/TCD2015, 8 cylinder, diesel, 1,900 RPM
  • Milling depth: 0 to 12.6 inches
  • Cutting width: 78.7 inches
  • Theoretical milling volume:
  • Water spray system
    • 14 spray nozzles; 12 on the drum and 2 on the conveyor
    • Two pumps, adjustable up to 30 gallons per minute
ModelHorsepowerWorking Speed, feet per minuteOperating Weight*, poundsWater Capacity, gallons
BM 2000/504690 to 11265,257713
BM 2000/605900 to 9871,650872

*Operating weight with a full fuel tank

 

Risks Addressed:

Milling asphalt and concrete pavement 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 to silica. Silicosis is an incurable, sometimes fatal disease.

 
The ACGIH recommends that airborne concentrations of insoluble or poorly soluble Particles Not Otherwise Specified (PNOS) be kept below 3 mg/m3 for respirable particles (less than 10 micrometers diameter) and 10 mg/m3 for inhalable particles (less than 100 micrometers diameter). The OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for Particles Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR) is 5 mg/m3 for the respirable fraction and 15 mg/m3 for total dust. 
 
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:

 

A fine water spray or mist is delivered to the drum and conveyor, during or immediately after milling, where it combines with airborne particles created during the breaking of asphalt or concrete pavement causing the now larger particles to settle. Adding moisture to the material will also reduce the amount of airborne dust and silica generated during other activities such as loading or transporting. Silica and dust in the asphalt and concrete materials are only hazardous if inhaled and are not hazardous for skin contact.  As long as the dust does not become airborne, the hazard is reduced. The extent to which these particular systems are effective in meeting occupational exposure limits has not been evaluated by scientists or independent parties.

 

 

Using water will visibly suppress dust, but the extent that it reduces the small, respirable particles is unclear, without additional testing. Although exposure is not reduced to zero, substantial reduction is expected. This is dependent on the amount of water used, the water spray pattern, 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 published sampling data on these specific tools is very limited, evidence indicates exposure to respirable silica can be significantly reduced through the use of wet methods.
 
In evaluations conducted during milling of asphalt and concrete pavement with wet dust suppression, NIOSH collected 21 personal air samples for those working on or around the milling machines. The sampling results indicated an average respirable dust concentration of 0.89 mg/m3 and respirable silica (quartz) concentration of 0.05 mg/m3, equal to the NIOSH REL and twice the ACGIH TLV.
 

In a similar evaluation, Linch reports personal sampling results ranging from 0.22 to 2.9 mg/m3 for respirable dust and from less than the detection limit to 0.36 mg/m3, seven times the REL and 14 times the TLV, for respirable silica.

 

Effects on Productivity:

Reducing airborne dust levels reduces vehicle and site cleanup times and 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. In some cases, particularly where highway milling is intermittent, the use of water spray systems may be adequate to reduce the need to wear a respirator, and the need for an employer respiratory protection program.

Additional Considerations:

 

In addition to dust supression, water also plays a critical role as a coolant in these milling machines and reduces wear.  Water flows adequate for cooling may or may not be adequate to reduce respirable dust.
 
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, trips and falls. Milling 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 diesel and particularly gasoline-powered equipment poses the risk of carbon monoxide exposure, especially 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.
 
Milling machines and related equipment frequently generate sound levels that are greater than 90 decibels, the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), and hazardous. Hearing protection should be worn when using milling machines unless an industrial hygienist has conducted noise monitoring and indicated that 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:

  • Heavy Equipment

Availability

Volvo Milling Machines
To obtain information, visit http://www.volvoce.com or contact 1-828-650-2000 http://www.volvoce.com/constructionequipment/na/en-us/aboutus/contactus/contact_new/Pages/contact_equip_request.aspx

BOMAG Milling Machines
To obtain information, visit http://www.bomag.com or contact 1-309-852-6219 info.bomag@bomag.com

Dynapac Planers/Milling Machines
To obtain information, visit http://www.dynapac.com or contact 1-210-474-5770

Return on Investment

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