Tech Spray safe cleaning alternatives
Industrial cleaners continue to be a focus of concern as new research comes to light.
n-Propyl Bromide (nPB), Trichloroethylene (TCE), and Perchloroethylene (Perc) are three examples of harmful chemicals that are commonly used as industrial aerosol cleaners. Because of years of experience and research, Techspray is able to offer safer alternatives under the brands G3 and Ecoline.
nPB, TCE, and Perc are commonly used as cleaning solvents because they are non-flammable, have high solvency, and are relatively inexpensive. Tests have shown that nPB can impact neurological and reproductive systems. TCE has been linked to lung, kidney, and liver cancers. Perc may cause liver damage or altered renal function.
The lack of such knowledge and control can lead to employee ill health, downtime, and potential liability, no matter what the legal standing of a particular chemical. The onus is on the organizations using solvents to select products carefully, and equip the users to safely handle the chemicals.
The personal hazard associated with a solvent is often defined using Threshold Limit Value (TLV), which is the recommended average exposure in an 8-hour per day, 40 hour work week. This is generally set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The unit of measure is Parts Per Million (PPM).
ACGIH have set the exposure limits at 10ppm for nPB and TCE, and 25ppm for Perc. ACGIH recently downgraded TCE TLV from 25 to 10ppm following the comprehensive EPA study, "Toxicological Review of Trichloroethylene", published September, 2011.
The lower the TLV of a particular substance, the less a worker can be exposed to without harmful effects. TLV is stated on the MSDS of chemical products, in additional to recommended personal protection equipment (PPE). Every organization using hazardous chemicals within their facility has the responsibility to equip their facility and personnel to maintain exposure levels below the TLV.
In contrast to nPB, TCE, and Perc, Techspray's G3 and Ecoline maintenance cleaners have TLV above 400ppm. These higher limits give employers the opportunity to improve working conditions in their facility without sacrificing product performance.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The November/December issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Kimball Midwest. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dirk Beveridge, Frank Hurtte, and Mike Marks, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
