Cleaning with Compressed Air

No. Under no circumstances should anyone use compressed air to clean off clothing or any part of the body. Although many people know using compressed air to clean debris or clothes can be hazardous, it is still used because of old habits and the easy availability of compressed air in many workplaces. However, cleaning objects, machinery, bench tops, clothing and other things with compressed air is dangerous. Injuries can be caused by the air jet and by particles made airborne (re-entering the air). Many workplace injuries occur due to the misuse of compressed air.

In many Canadian jurisdictions, cleaning with compressed air is prohibited (not allowed) by law. Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan specifically mention that compressed air shall not be used to clean clothing worn by a worker, to clean a person, or be directed towards a worker.  In Prince Edward Island it is prohibited to disconnect air lines from air-operated tools for this purpose.

Cleaning of surfaces, structures, materials, machinery, work benches, floors, etc. may also be specifically prohibited.

Cleaning with compressed air may also be prohibited when there is a risk of the worker being injured, risk of fire or explosion, or use would result in airborne concentrations of hazardous materials that exceed occupational exposure limits or other listed values.

In jurisdictions where limited use of compressed air for cleaning is allowed (British Columbia, New Brunswick, North West Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Yukon, and federal regulations), additional safety control measures are required. The device must be specifically designed to safely clean a person or surface, and personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn.

Other legislation may apply to specific hazardous materials. For example, cleaning with compressed air is prohibited  when working with asbestos (British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, North West Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, and federal regulations), respirable crystalline silica and rock dust (British Columbia), and mould contamination (Manitoba). Using compressed air for clean-up of debris containing lead is prohibited in British Columbia, and controlled in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (additional safety control measures are required). Ontario Fire Code regulations prohibit the use of compressed air to clean combustible dusts from surfaces, unless additional safety control measures are used to prevent fire and explosion.

Some federal regulations limiting the use of compressed air for cleaning are sector-specific, including aviation, maritime operations, oil and gas, offshore marine installations, and on-board trains.

Always check with your jurisdiction for specific restrictions and more information.

First, compressed air is extremely forceful. Depending on its pressure, compressed air can dislodge particles. These particles are a danger since they can enter your eyes or abrade the skin. The possible damage would depend on the size, weight, shape, composition, and speed of the particles. The pressure used to remove the particles from machines and surfaces is also strong enough to blow the filings, shavings, chips, and particles of metal into the eyes, ears, or skin of people. Compressed air can enter the body where the skin is not present (i.e., ear, nose, rectum or any scratch or puncture in the skin, however small) and can cause damage. There have also been reports of hearing damage caused by the pressure of compressed air and by its sound.

Second, the compressed air itself is also a serious hazard. On rare occasions, some of the compressed air can enter the blood stream through a break in the skin or a body opening. An air bubble in the blood stream is known medically as an embolism, a dangerous medical condition in which a blood vessel is blocked, in this case, by an air bubble. An embolism of an artery can cause coma, paralysis or death depending upon its size, duration, and location. While air embolisms are usually associated with incorrect diving procedures, they are possible with compressed air due to high pressures. While this seems improbable, even a small quantity of air or other gas in the blood can quickly be fatal.

Third, using air to clean forces the dirt and dust particles into the air, making these contaminants airborne and creating a respiratory hazard.

Fourth, when combustible dust becomes airborne there is a risk of fire or explosion. Sources of ignition (sparks, energized machinery) can ignite the airborne combustible dust causing injury, death, and property damage.

Unfortunately, horseplay has been a cause of some serious workplace accidents caused by individuals not aware of the hazards of compressed air, or proper work procedures.

Use wet sweeping techniques, sweeping compounds, or vacuum cleaners equipped with special filters or other devices to prevent dust from being recirculated into the air.

A "quiet" nozzle (i.e. one with low noise emission) should be selected.

The nozzle pressure must remain below 10 psi (69 or 70 kPa).

Note: Maximum air pressure limits are legislated by British Columbia (70 kPa/10 psig), New Brunswick (69 kPa),North West Territories (68.9 kPa/10 psi), Nunavut (68.9 kPa/10 psi), Yukon (69 kPa/10 psi), and where permitted under federal regulations (69 kPa/10 psi). In Quebec, compressed air used to clean equipment or machines must be less than 200 kPa, unless inside a specially designed enclosure.

Use effective guarding methods that prevent a chip or particle (of any size) from being blown into the eyes or unbroken skin of the operator or other workers nearby. You may also use barriers, baffles, or screens to protect other workers near the operator if there is a risk of exposure.

In addition, air guns should also be used with some local exhaust ventilation or facilities to control the generation of airborne particulates. When compressed air cleaning is unavoidable, hazards can be reduced by making adjustments to the air gun such as:

When using compressed air to clean combustible dusts, potential ignition sources in the dust removal area must be controlled. All sources of ignition must be eliminated, and all machinery and equipment must be de-energized or rated for safe use in atmospheres containing combustible dusts.

Personal protection equipment (PPE) must be worn to protect the worker's body, especially the eyes, against particles and dust under pressure. Respiratory protection should also be used if there is a risk that hazardous particulate matter will be inhaled.

Examples:

The Nova Scotia regulation states:

101. (2) Where compressed air is used to clean a surface or person, an employer shall ensure that the device that is used to deliver the air is

(a) commercially manufactured and approved in the manufacturer's specifications for the purpose of cleaning a surface or person with compressed air; or

(b) certified by an engineer as adequate for the purpose of cleaning a surface or person with compressed air.

Occupational Safety General Regulations N.S. Reg. 44/99 Section 101(2)

Ontario does not specify a pressure limit but does state:

66. A compressed air or other compressed gas blowing device shall not be used for blowing dust or other substances,

(a) from clothing worn by a worker except where the device limits increase in pressure when the nozzle is blocked; or

(b) in such a manner as to endanger the safety of any worker.

Industrial Establishments R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851 Section 66