Posted By Andrew Adam Has anyone come across this situation. We use a powdercoat paint process and the operators have access to mobile phones when in the spray boothes and painting. Q - is this legal and is it safe? Hope some one can help

Posted By Merv Newman I try to discourage, strongly, the carrying/using of portables in any factory situation. Exceptions allowed for supervisors and managers. They are just too distracting. Merv

Posted By Malcolm Fryer Andrew Apart from all the good advice you have had from other contributors I would suspect that your assessment under DSEAR may well have identified that there could be a risk of explosion in a spray booth. Mobile phones especially when they ring are not intrinsically safe so have no place in such an environment. Very simple action ban possession of phones in this environment. I hope that this assists. Malcolm

Posted By Nick Oxley All sound advice, I understand the theory and take on board the good advice given out but has anyone come across documented evidence to show that mobile phones may cause sparks when in use.

Posted By David Bannister Just had another thought: do the sprayers need RPE? If so, how do they use the phone to talk?

Posted By Smurfer A reference for the 50-100g/m3 figure... for anyone who's interested. "http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl_pdf/2004/hsl04-12.pdf" (section 3.2.1)

Posted By Paul Oliver David, I am assuming you don't work within zones 0, 1 & 2 then?

Posted By Smurfer ... which makes the coating powder concentration even higher before being explosive (smaller surface area). do you have to explain the bleeding obvious every time you write something on this forum?... seems like it sometimes

Posted By Smurfer John Just do a 'google' for 'dust explosion concentration' and you'll see other links which aren't to do with nano-powders quoting the same levels (50-100g/m3 upto 2-3kg/m3) e.g. http://www.chemeng.ed.ac...fluences/influences.html The setion in the nano-powders' reference is to do with the general characteristics of a dust explosion and not just relevant to nano-powders. My point is that if an operator is exposed to a dust cloud at explosive levels then he/she wouldn't be able to use a mobile phone, or even breathe. And it's got nothing to do with saving the company money.

Posted By John Murgatroyd I already googled it, and I've done the job as well. If you're banning mobiles because they aren't "intrinsically safe", presumably you're also banning the charged gun that imparts the electric[al] charge to the powder ? Unless you operate the fluidised powder "dip" type coating process, in which case...does it matter ? Admit it, you're just on a downer because guys use phones while they're supposed to be working.....money again.

Posted By Al.. I would like to suggest that "ban" is a word that perhaps should not be in a safety practitioner's vocabulary. It creates, in my mind, an image of a somewhat officious jobsworth who is frustrating the organisation rather than facilitating improvements :-) And if we are to continue using the word, let's consider whether a safety practitioner should be banning anything. We give advice to line managers who will then decide what action should be taken. "Managers manage and advisers advise" I thing someone once said.

Posted By John Murgatroyd Yes, it seemed to me that banning phones because they may make a spark, while shoving powder out of the end of a "gun" charged to 20 Kv is a bit contradictory. Yes: OEL: Occupational Exposure Limit. Supposedly a limit above which the operator is not supposed to be exposed. Largely ignored, propped-up by extensive monitoring which is extensively repeated until the desired result is obtained. RPE: Respiratory Protective Equipment. The item of equipment [grudingly] provided by the employer to protect the employee from excessive dust/fume in the workplace. It being cheaper to buy a load of [cheap] masks than provide extraction, which is what they are SUPPOSED to do. Dust concentration (50mg/M3 etc) You need to hire a company to come along and test the levels over a period of time. They do this by using small air samplers that pull/push the air through filters. They then check the filters in the lab. Usually the testing is done when no work is being done, at night etc. All of the above are usually monitored by professional occupational health and safety consultants. Which says it all really !