Posted By Sarah Bessey
I wonder if anyone could give me some information about the use of compressed air lines fitted with safety nozzles.
Basically we have just fitted some new safety nozzles to our airlines but they have reduced the pressure so significantly that they don't have enough power to do the task (we have to blow small components out of small tracks on automated assembly machines).
Does anyone know the max pressure permitted in a hand held air line and whether there are such things as HSE approved nozzles?
I have tried the pressure systems regs and also the compressed air regs but they don't really answer my question.

Posted By Merv Newman
Sarah, the "safety" air pistols are usually limited at 2 bars, around 28 psi. "Mains" pressure is usually around 6 bars. Which can cause a lot of "bounce back" These pistols are most often used for cleaning down around machines. A sort of reverse vacuum cleaner. They also are built to provide a sort of "air curtain" cone or blast to reduce or contain bounce-back.

Is it possible that you could consider a fixed installation with whatever protective screens so that bounce-back of the pieces you are trying to get out will not reach the employee ? If you can do that then 6 bars shouldn't cause a safety problem.

NB at 6 bars, I am informed that the air stream can penetrate the skin, cause an embolus (owdjerspelthat ?) in the blood which will stop the heart beating. But I have NO proof whatsoever. Folklore or fact ? Dunno.

Posted By Ron Hunter
Are the changes you describe merely a dimunition of what is essentially a bad practice? Using compressed air lines to clean out machinery etc is a not particularly safe but all too common practice, because heh, there's a handy airline there! I'm sure the HSE would frown on this,whether 6bar or 2bar.It was certainly taboo in all the engineering shops I've ever worked in. Surely vacuum extraction would be much safer for non-ferrous components?