Dust extractors - HSE guidance and do I really need to get rid of my midi's

The title shows it as a Discussion Document. Does that mean that it is a proposal they are taking into consideration and open to public input?

Tom
 
Hi Dan

I've been hearing rumours regarding extraction and the hse for quite a while now but haven't looked at an details

Was thinking of you the other day, as I have been working right near that job you were doing in Englefield green Windsor. How did it turn out ? Have you finished yet ?
 
we had a HSE guy come to our site for a talk on dust extraction last week.iI was half an hour late for the talk so actually missed most of it but i do have the paper work on my desk .i will read it and let you know .but i know they are really clamping down on dust at the moment .its my biggest problem with the health and safety guys on site .but he was talking about HEPA .Im not really sure what that is but it seems to relate to dry wall sanders
 
When I did my workshop dust study a little while ago I went through a lot of the HSE documents. I have just revisited some of them and it still seems to put the emphasis on measuring the local risk (with dust measuring kit), consulting the workforce and doing what is deemed to be the best practical effort to reduce the risk.

As far as I can tell (this is my opinion and not to be taken as fact) there is no regulation per se that forces anyone to use an M rather than L extractor. The HSE does say that for workshop clean-ups an M class should be used.

The acid test it to find out what your insurance company wish you to do.

One of my local professional workshops is required by their insurers to have their plumbed in extraction system tested each year. They make no stipulation about local collection from routers and sanders.

I am careful in my one man shop and use a CTL26 and when I am cutting MDF or Iroko or doing a cleanup I use a respirator as well.

Peter
 
I've used extraction when I can on site and in private homes for years. In general though I've found a lot of people on sites don't. We finished a huge job last year up in London and hse came around quite often. Us and the floor layers were the only people on site using extraction. It just so happened that as a health and safety guy wandered round one day one of our guys was just about to make a cut without the extractor connected to his rail saw. He was stopped and told if he had cut in front of the guy then the site would have been closed.

Years ago no one really worried about extraction on mobile equipment but the above just goes to show how seriously they are taking it now.
 
So on site are you running 110v extractors then Joiner? Are they Festool models? I had wondered about 240 or 110v, but hate lugging transformers around when not on sites which isn't often at all these days for me.
Mark
 
Mark,

Lugging transformers round has never bothered me it just another tool to me.

We just had one midi on that site which was just about ok for 3 chippies.

Chris
 
On most of the sites I've worked on in the past 12 months they've insisted on an M class dust extractor if it's being used to collect any kind on wood dust, ive struggles trying to find a ctm in 110v, I've ended up getting a bosch gas 35m afc and I've ended up using my midi just for site clean ups
 
Cheers Chris,
I think it stems from when I put a dint in my door unloading mine on an evening when I was tired. I now see the dint and curse transformers lol
Mark
 
Lol we've all done that. Got a nice big scratch on my sliding door from a chisel. Where I was loading my tools after a long day
 
jonny round boy said:
Sweet said:
Is there an easy fix to convert an L to an M extractor?
Click to expand...

No, there isn't.
Click to expand...

JRB totally correct. An air flow monitor is required for diffrent hose sizes and an audible warning for a blocked hose or full bag.
Phil
 
Phil,

Do you have any info you can offer pertaining to this? Surely there's someone at Festool who keeps abreast of changes in regulations that would apply to your products?

Jonathan
 
This is part of a she guide I was given on my last site, relating to cutting/sanding wood and M/H class dust extractors
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    271 KB · Views: 522
Perhaps off topic but based on your experience, how do you know when to change filter bags?

 
Don't know about the festool vacs. On some vacs have say a light which comes on when the airflow drops off because either the bag is full or the hose is blocked. 
 
wrightwoodwork said:
Don't know about the festool vacs. On some vacs have say a light which comes on when the airflow drops off because either the bag is full or the hose is blocked.
Click to expand...

Yes, my Numatics have that and they will power off if the motor gets too hot.

I find the best way is to get to know the noise your extractor(s) make and know when it is straining. Also, it is worth checking the bag at regular intervals.

Peter
 
On my bosch, there's a warning alarm if the air flow drops below a preset limit, so it means either the filter or hose is blocked or the bag needs emptying
 
Dangermouse said:
On my bosch, there's a warning alarm if the air flow drops below a preset limit, so it means either the filter or hose is blocked or the bag needs emptying
Click to expand...

Do the rules allow you to empty the bag or does it have to be disposable bag?

Tom
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Administrator_JSVN
  • Locked
MOVED: Dust extractors - HSE guidance and do I really need to get rid of my midi's
Replies
0
Views
2K
Administrator_JSVN
Administrator_JSVN
Back
Top