Seeking Safe Solutions for Cement Dust: Any Leads on Body and Cloth Cleaning Booths?

We are into the manufacturing of cement. In our plant, one of the major activities is cement bags packing and loading. During the process, the workers' clothes and bodies get covered with cement dust. Presently, we are using low-pressure compressed air lines and blowers to remove the dust from clothes and bodies. As this compressed air can cause damage to the eyes or ears, we are planning to adopt a better option for this job.

Body/Cloth Cleaning Booths

From this forum, we had discussed earlier regarding body/cloth cleaning booths. I have tried with many of our suppliers regarding the same, but no one was aware of such a thing. If anyone is using or knows any contact details of the supplier for body/cloth cleaning booths, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

Dear Dipil, this is a new subject for me: body dust cleaning! You may get an idea from overseas manufacturers if you have contacts. However, I shall also try to find some information.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudhir

Dear Dipil, Send me some pictures of the types of methods you have in your plant (as you mentioned using compressed air) to my email (a couple of pictures or a small video), so that I can inquire with some vendors who are familiar to me in the UAE. One more thing, I have been quite busy lately. Please allow me some time after receiving your pictures or video; I will communicate to my vendors exactly what I need, and I am confident they will find a solution.

I strongly believe that you can find a better solution to this matter through our forum. We will see.

Thanks.

We have recently procured centrifugal air blowers at one of our sites. It's really safe and has reduced the danger of compressed air hazards. This was procured after experiencing a fatality caused by two drivers engaging in horseplay with compressed air. I will email you the specifications and other details.

Regards,
Hansa

Ms. Hansa's suggestion should work. Air blowers are safe and energy-efficient. You have to consider the qualitative requirements to achieve the desired cleaning level. However, I have not yet found time to come up with my suggestions.

Thanks and Regards,
Sudhir

Dear Mr. Dipil, while searching on the internet regarding your query, I found the following website with a Personnel Dust De-Contamination Device. Can you please verify it? I am attaching the screenshot as well.

Website: Skybowling

Regards,

Dear Mr. Dipil, I found one more supplier who provides a Personnel Air Shower system. I am attaching their details and contacts. Please check it out.

Regards

Dear Hansa,

Thank you for the really great help. I have received the mail from you and have sent the same to our technical team for a feasibility study. We already have a similar blower arrangement. The issue we are facing is that the blower's opening is fixed, causing the workers to bend down and assume various positions to clean the dust. Sometimes, the blower accidentally sucks in the entire cloth instead of just cleaning the dust. Therefore, we are considering a better solution in terms of a dust cleaning booth. Let's see if we can find a supplier for this product in India.

Once again, thank you for your participation and assistance.

Dear Mr. David Thampi,

First of all, thank you very much for your participation and help. I am looking for a product as shown in the picture only. I had come across this website earlier and even sent a query to [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons] asking whether you would be supplying this product in India. So far, I have not received any response. However, I am planning to send them a reminder email for a response.

If you have any supplier contacts who can provide this machine in India, please let me know.

If this solution is working out, then you can easily have a flexible duct. One end of the duct shall be connected to the blower and the other end for cleaning application. You may try it. It should not be very costly as well.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudhir

I have spoken to Mr. M.L Panse on the provided mobile number. He mentioned that the Personal Air Shower they offer is a delicate piece of equipment that cannot be used for my purpose. This particular system is primarily designed for the Pharma Industry, where individuals pass through the shower before entering labs or other areas to maintain a dust-free and hygienic environment.

Nevertheless, I have asked Mr. Panse for a referral. Let's wait for a positive response.

Surely, we will be implementing what you mentioned finally if we do not get any better options. We have already thought of fixing a flexible hose, pipe, or duct at the outlet. Let's wait a few more days, or else we will go ahead with the available solution itself.

You are correct; the air showers are used before entry to clean rooms in pharma industries and certain labs. They use HEPA filters to achieve the desired cleanliness.

Vacuum Application for Dust Removal

Another idea that came to my mind is the vacuum application. You may have to design special equipment for humans, such as a chamber where the head is in the atmosphere and the rest of the body is in a vacuum. These chambers can be connected to the suction of a blower to create the vacuum. You can even try using rough vacuum pumps for this purpose, although this solution may be costly.

I encourage you to explore this idea further.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudhir

I am not sure, but the following could be possible solutions:

1. Non-stick clothes and blower
2. Vacuum
3. Using protective appliances like goggles/earplugs while using compressed air.

Regards,
Devendra

Dear Dipil,

The use of a high-volume, low-pressure blower with 360-degree air nozzles in a closed chamber should be sufficient for the intended purpose. A dust extraction system can be connected at the top.

Similar to many steam-bath enclosures, positioning the head above the chamber can help prevent dust from getting into the eyes. I am confident that your engineers at the plant can innovate and establish a trial unit.

One potential issue to consider is the number of workers at the end of the shift and how many enclosures will be needed.

Feel free to give me a call anytime at [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons].

Best Wishes,
Daljit Singh

Thank you very much for your kind reply. It's really great to receive advice from seniors like you through this forum. I appreciate it and look forward to the same in the future. I have forwarded your input to our technical HOD. I will definitely give him a call if we are going to execute the plan for site fabrication.

Regards

At last, I got a solution to the dust cleaning booth. Special thanks to Mr. David Thampi for leading me to Mr. Panse. He promised to make something that will be suitable for our needs. Following are his contact details for anyone needing them in the future:

M.L. Panse
CTO & Head Business Development
Ashrae Clean Room Presentations Pvt. Ltd.
G1-G3, Kundan Towers, Mayuri Marg,
Begumpet, Hyderabad-500016
Andhra Pradesh, India
Phone: [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]
Mobile: [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]
Fax: +91-40-26672661
Email: [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]
Web: CRP Group

Once again, thanks to all for helping me.

Regards,

Dear Dipil, Of course, this is a layman's suggestion. You may think it over if it's really useful.

Using Air Curtains for Dust Removal

Your requirement is for low-pressure air to remove finer particles without damaging human organs. So, I would suggest using air curtains, commonly used in various shops and workplaces, to prevent dust from the streets from flowing into the work areas. This may serve your purposes. Additionally, you may consider using water flowing underneath to prevent the removed cement dust from being blown all over again as it washes the floor. Employees exiting the area can pass through the air curtains until the cement dust is fully removed. The gentle air blowing over the head ensures that human organs are not exposed to excessive pressure. The running water can wash away the removed cement dust. (Consider the method used in Tirupathi Thirumala Devasthanam to wash off the devotees' feet as they enter the temple). I believe this could be a cost-effective solution for your problem.

Alternative Method: Hand-held Blowers

Another simple method could be utilizing hand-held blowers or dryers, commonly used by modern ladies to dry their hair, on an individual basis. This could also be a cost-effective solution.

Regards, Kumar S.