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Paper Dust From Office Shredder - Carcinogenic?
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
All,
I have just been presented with the assertion by a staff member that paper dust produced by an office shredder is carcinogenic.
This is news to me and the individual, though adamant, is unable to name their source.
Is anyone on the forum aware of any documentary evidence from sceintific journals or the HSE to justify this claim?
Or should I just impose a blanket ban on the use of paper in the office as a precautionary measure?
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Posted By J Knight
Definitely ban paper, and computers, or better still, ban work as it seems to be this which causes all the H&S problems.
I thought all dusts were included in COSHH, and presumably this would include paper dust, but also presumably not in the tiny quantities produced by a shredder. Paper dust propelled by static can mimic fleas though (see at least a couple of previous threads on this forum), causing red marks on victim's legs and being able to carry 250 times their own body weight; no, that's ants, and its not even Friday...
John
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Posted By Robert S Woods
As PPE is allowed as a first control measure for carcinogenic substances; supply this person with suitable respiritory equipment, white paper overalls and wellingtons. Then site their desks next to the shredder with LEV whirring away next to it. Tell them it's just a precaution until you assertain that paper dust isn't carcinogenic. Should take about a month.
You could also tell them that you heard that sleep gives you cancer. Neil on the young ones said so.
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Posted By Fred Pratley
What - Guilty until proven innocent without a shred of evidence!
Again?
Still keeps me in a job!
Mayybe all those people known NOT to die from cancer when working in papermills might be a clue!
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
Of course, though, we use a lot of chemicals in paper manufacture so you never know - The precautionary principle would seem apposite here. We will never prove paper dust from shredders is safe so we will have to maintain all the necessary precautions and plant and procedures until we achieve a best practice solution (or submission).
If we used some of the redwoods, that were banned in the timber industry some years ago, in paper manufacture the case would be easier to decide - the amount of Bysinosis, or something spelled similar, would be rather easy to spot epidemiologically speaking.
Bob
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Posted By Robert S Woods
Just to clarify things. John Knight has pointed out that paper overalls might not be a good idea given the subject of the posting and suggests pure silk.
I was thinking of Tyvek Protec type coated overalls as this would ensure that the asbestos in the said garment was sealed in and not friable. They would however have to be a management system to ensure that if torn or damaged they could be double bagged marked and sent to a specialist disposal company.
Better still get them a suit of armour and a diving lessons.
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
Do not go down the silk or cotton route as Bysinosis is a recognised disease arising from such dust.
Bob
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
But the Bends is a recognised disease from such an activity as diving
Bob
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Posted By Robert S Woods
You only get the bends when you surface too quickly and surfacing wasn't part of the plan. Wel not without the aid of Police divers.
Bob
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Posted By Chris Black
Surely a blanket ban on paper would be inappropriate. It would have to be a sheet ban.
Does this mean that it is not the tobacco that kills smokers but the stuff they wrap it in.
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
If I may interrupt again before the discussion deteriorates into the potential harm caused by brown paper versus white paper and the need for a Paper Register...
Thanks for the comments folks they made me giggle. Just to confirm no on on the forum is aware of any papers or new research.
Neither have I personally been able to unearth anything in an internet trawl, other than the Markowitz papers identified by John & Robert (We are Public Services not Paper Industry so we are talking really low to negligable exposures here).
Congratulations to those members who mailed me to suggest the individual may have a private agenda. There is, but I didn't think it was relevant to the initial question.
Briefly, a suggestion was made that the company should employ a shredding company rather than shred documents themselves and amongst the otherwise reasonable justifications was the above gem, which management asked me to investigate.
...It gives one more reason to ban those toilet roll cores though!
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Posted By Geoff Burt
Scenario: New industrial shredder purchased in a large office
Two members of staff given instructions by retailer on how to change bags and to maintain the shredder - authorised person list put up and everthing in order.
Two weeks later two employees complain of chest problems. One of them in the next office to the shredder, the other one at the other end of the floor (a substantial distance away and through a number of doors). Retained H&S consultants asked to investigate as office manager suspects shredder.
Investigation immediately reveals high levels of dust on desks, cabinets etc, surrounding and adjacent to the shredder.
Spoke to the two members of staff who are adamant that they are following procedures and can prove this because the maintenance activity is entered in the log book by the equipment.
Maintenance comprises removing and sealing bags of waste, replacing new bags and after every 10 bag change putting 2 squirts of oils in a little hole in the shredder to lubricate the cutters (helps for better cutting and substantially reduces dust).
Further investigation showed that the end of the oil can spout had never been cut off, so the two employees were removing the cap off the spout, putting the spout down the hole, pushing in the sides of the can twice and putting the oil cap back on.
Embarrassment all round!
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Posted By Geoff Burt
EB how could you doubt the veracity of my story, I'm deeply hurt and when I get out in 3 months time for GBH ....
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Paper Dust From Office Shredder - Carcinogenic?
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