Is It Safe to Use Ceiling Fans in Factories with Excessive Wood Dust? Seeking Clarification

Dear Professionals,

In areas with excessive wood dust, is it appropriate to use a ceiling fan in a factory? Please clarify.

Under Section 14 of the Factories Act, dust or fumes are required to be extracted properly. The section states that a factory should implement all preventive measures to prevent the inhalation of dust. Therefore, if the use of a ceiling fan increases such a risk, it must be removed.

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your valuable information. We already provide hoods and dust collectors on each machine. However, dust continues to accumulate around the work area. We have also installed ceiling fans in all work areas for the employees.

My concern is whether the ceiling fan circulates the dust. If you have any ideas on how to prevent the existing dust accumulation, please advise me.

Thank you.

Of course, ceiling fans will increase the liberation and circulation of dust, thereby adding more inhalation risk to employees. It is always preferable to have exhaust or dust extractors to deal with dust in liberating workplaces.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Dear Rameshan Sir,

Thank you for your valuable suggestions. For dust removal, we have used dust extractors and exhaust fans, etc. If I remove the ceiling fan, what should I replace it with to reduce the heat for employees?

Gururajan,

Expecting members of this forum to give an answer to a problem you have vaguely explained, without seeing the manufacturing process, plant layout, equipment, extent of dust, etc., is incorrect. I would suggest that you get an industrial engineer specializing in this matter to see the factory and provide you with a solution.