I wondered if anyone could help. We have some parts that require the cadmium plating to be removed, I am aware that cadmium is a toxic substance and is usually removed by chemical stripping. However my MD would like this to be removed by our Deburr dept using a 'windy'. I am not happy with this due to the health implications but my MD wants written proof where it says this cant be done.
Can anyone advise on this? Is it just the preferred method is chemical stripping but mechanical stripping can be done providing the correct measures are taken to protect employee?

Many Thanks
Angela

Apologies, a windy is an air supplied hand held tool used to finely grind metal, to remove small burrs etc.

Hi Angela

I have only come across this when I was working as a consultant and we had aerospace client.

I am not sure where it is documented, but the industry norm was that chemical removal would be used. However mechanical removal is also used when the shape of the part makes it more practical to do so, such as grinding. Blasting is also used for more complicated shape parts.

There is no reason why the windy can't be used, however you need to consider exposure to dust and also fumes as Cadium Oxide is formed when grinding. So you will need some form of dust extraction LEV etc. Once you have explained this, the MD may think the chemical removal is the easier option.

Many thanks everyone. I appreciate your ideas and I will get working on how to convince my MD!

hse document
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg391.pdf

I used to work with it when younger horrible stuff-- if it gets hot through grinding it will fume or dust -breath it in and you could die or worse. I would want fume cupboards, negative ventalation at least if i was striping it and not a mask and grinder

Stuff from internet

Acute exposure to cadmium fumes may cause flu like symptoms including chills, fever, and muscle ache sometimes referred to as "the cadmium blues." Symptoms may resolve after a week if there is no respiratory damage.

More severe exposures can cause tracheo-bronchitis, pneumonitis, and pulmonary edema. Symptoms of inflammation may start hours after the exposure and include cough, dryness and irritation of the nose and throat, headache, dizziness, weakness, fever, chills, and chest pain.

Inhaling cadmium-laden dust quickly leads to respiratory tract and kidney problems which can be fatal (often from renal failure). Ingestion of any significant amount of cadmium causes immediate poisoning and damage to the liver and the kidneys. The bones become soft (osteomalacia), lose bone mineral density (osteoporosis) and become weaker. This causes the pain in the joints and the back, and also increases the risk of fractures. In extreme cases of cadmium poisoning, mere body weight causes a fracture.

The kidneys lose their function to remove acids from the blood in proximal renal tubular dysfunction. The kidney damage inflicted by cadmium poisoning is irreversible. The proximal renal tubular dysfunction creates low phosphate levels in the blood (hypophosphatemia), causing muscle weakness and sometimes coma. The dysfunction also causes gout, a form of arthritis due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints because of high acidity of the blood (hyperuricemia). Another side effect is increased levels of chloride in the blood (hyperchloremia). The kidneys can also shrink up to 30%. Cadmium exposure is also associated with the development of kidney stones

Personally if i had a boss who said remove that from there using a needle gun, grinder or whatever i would tell him -NO

If he then insisted i would leave my job never mind him saying show me proof its ok

i would rather strip asbestos, i worked in the ship yards and have come across both and cadmium still sends a chill through my spine having seen alot of old work colleagues suffer
after exposure through heat and grinding -- we never new better then

It is not simple to provide advice/information without being able to assess the efficiency of the built in extraction of the burring tool, how well equipped ( or otherwise) you facility is for this method or the alternative, i.e. chemical stripping

Chemical stripping will have its hazards & risks as it is most likely to involve concentrated acids/alkali, sometime even cyanide based chemicals. However, if you have been using chemical stripping, it can be a preferred option as you are likely to have robust control measures.