Food Dust Extraction

Interested?

Want to learn more about providing a pollution-free food manufacturing working environment?

Find out more today

Request More Information

FREE Site Assessments

We can help your business comply with the latest HSE guidance

Book a FREE assessment today

Book Now

Full Description

Food manufacturing can produce a number of hazards in the working environment and implementing adequate engineering controls, such as food dust extraction systems, can sometimes be at the back of a business owner's mind.

The Health & Safety Executive based their guidance on bakeries, flour and flour dust to stipulate the core principles of dust in food manufacturing. Flour dust is finely ground particles of cereal or pulses (including contaminants) resulting from any grinding process, subsequent handling and use. Any additives (eg flour improvers) are included after they have been added to the final product. WELs should be reduced as low as practically possible.

"Breathing in flour dust can cause asthma"

HSE's FL0: COSSH Essential Guidance for Managers for Production and Use of Flour

We Have The Solution

Auto Extract Systems are accustomed to helping all kinds of food manufacturing businesses provide pollution-free workplaces with food dust extraction systems.

What The HSE Recommends for Bakery Dust Extraction

On the HSE's Baker - common causes of asthma webpage, the HSE recommends that businesses work carefully to avoid raising clouds of dust and to use bakery dust extraction equipment for dusty tasks. Whilst in HSE's INDG429 - Bakers: Time to Clear the Air guidance, it states that food dust extraction equipment should be working and switched on prior to any dusty task being stated.

Health Risks

Occupational asthma is a common theme in the HSE's advice for food manufacturing businesses. Click the following links to find HSE’s ‘G402: Health Surveillance for Occupation Asthma’, and; ‘G403: Health Surveillance for Occupational Dermatitis’ guidance.

In the HSE's baker case study, school cook and flour dust, a school cook developed breathing problems after working with flour in the school kitchen, which was in a small room with poor ventilation and no bakery dust extraction solution. Her breathing problems became so severe that she could hardly walk and she had to sleep sitting up. After an investigation, the courts eventually awarded her £200,000 in damages.

The Food Contaminants to Consider

When working in food & drink manufacturing, there are several types of contaminants to be aware of. Whether involved in a food production line or the packaging process, fume and dust health risks can appear. Here are some of the types of food that may be considered a risk due to the particles that they contain:

Dried Milk
Flours
Sugar
Spices
Powdered Food
Instant Coffee
Corn Starch
Cereals
Animal Feeds

The Dangers of Diacetyl Vapour

The Health and Safety Executive has recently issued a safety alert on exposure to diacetyl vapour within the food and drink manufacturing industry. Diacetyl is a chemical often used as a flavouring agent in food products. You will also encounter diacetyl when making coffee during the roasting process or while brewing certain beers. Diacetyl is regarded as a hazardous substance because it can cause severe health problems when the vapour is inhaled, including lung disease, lung damage, scarring, eye damage and skin irritation.

The HSE notes that the risk of diacetyl is greater when the chemical is heated above certain temperatures. When manufacturing coffee, the concentration level is increased when the beans are ground when warm (around 40 degrees Celsius). When manufacturing flavour mixtures, the risk increases if the mixture is heated, spray dried or added to hot processes.

The workplace exposure limits (WELs) for diacetyl are "20 parts per billion (ppb) or 0.02 parts per million (ppm) over an 8-hr time weight average (TWA) and 100 ppb or 0.10 ppm over a 15-min TWA period."

If your business involves manufacturing food products containing diacetyl, you must take action to reduce the risk of exposure to your employees. Businesses should undergo a risk assessment to identify the hazards, understand who is at risk, and determine prevention measures. Check the safety data sheet to see if a product contains diacetyl, and if so, use sampling and analysis to determine if exposure will go above the limits. If possible, you should consider substituting the product for an alternative that doesn't contain diacetyl.

You can control the risk of exposure with an adequate LEV extraction system to keep the workplace free of harmful vapour spreading through the air. Respiratory Protection Equipment (RPE) can also safeguard your employees from coming into contact with diacetyl particles.

Read our blog post on the health risks of diacetyl and managing exposure to learn more about working with this chemical.

Food Dust Extraction Systems For...

We are experienced in providing various food dust extraction solutions to all kinds of businesses. Our team has helped with everything from small and medium-sized businesses like bakeries to large multinational corporations.