Are Sorting Machines Making the Postman Sick

[Tman]

never done any hovering ? you suck but what comes out back of hover ? well i think you'll find in order to suck you have to blow

You're in a surreal world there, Yorkie.

[Night Tonic]

As usual

[BELIAL]

Any thoughts/ doubts/worries/ concerns about the carcinogenic /mutanagenic /irreversible side effect chemicals you may be exposed to ,in massively greater than normal concentrations ? Just asking cos the rats don't fair too well,and they don't have to hoover 3x a day

[andy2007]

No seriously though ,what is the chemical make up of this dust MC workers inhale all day every working day. Theres Biocides ;flocculants ;anti foaming agents ;wetting agents;wet strength agents;fungicides;chlorine;bleaching agents etc,not to mention surface treatments and whatever dyes.
I thought it was just paper
There must be some monitoring going on? Some of this stuff causes liver failure at minute parts per million

I don't have access to the results, other than a risk level (low). And as I work in an RDC, it would be a different composition anyway. But I do know 2 things:
1) The checks take place.
2) Since we had the checks, and the improved efforts to stop the dust building up. There has been a major improvement.

I assume, that the cleaning of the machines in the MCs, is as well thought out. But I can't be sure.

But to give you an idea: They clear the dust wih Vacum Cleaners, which presumably have filters. Which would explain the vastly improved Air quality.

Thanks Andy, yes checks are legally required but I was more concerned with the precise nature of the checks. Are they simply airborne particulate density and size checks or do they include substance identification checks as well? See what I mean ,you could probably get away with inhaling organic flour dust for ten years at 20ppm but you wouldn't want to try the same with Diphenyl's.
Point 2 is interesting ,why the major clean up effort ,surely checks occur at regular intervals and safe operating methods are in place. What has changed to require "major improvement"?
The vacuum cleaner bit is rather alarming ,specially 3x a day in MC's,you've been breathing that stuff in at much greater rate than it settles out at

We used to have a lot of people having health problems, as a result of the poor air quality. It reached the stage, where a lot of people ended up wearing face masks, to get though a Shift. That's why we needed a vast improvement.

As I said: The dust at MCs will have a different composition to the dust we deal with. But if it's possible to have such a major improvement, thanks to the "high level cleans" at RDCs (been going on for about a decade now). Then presumably, using similar methods on the sorting machines. Should (in theory) have the same effect. Just look at how much worse it is in the USPS, where they deny there's any health risks, and don't have the same precautions.

Although I'm only assuming (due to the major improvements from using them) that the vacum cleaners they use have filters. I do know however (as I have one myself), that vacum cleaners can be fitted with special filters. They trap even microscopic dust particles, to help people who have respritory problems. They just need regular cleaning, to stop them getting clogged up (twice a year for domestic use).

[axeman]

still intrested how when you vacum a machine at stop i presume you don't do it when running ? what happens to the levels of airbourne dust not attracted by the machine when running or is it so good you have none only when it stops does the dust appear ? my guess is its left to atmospheric conditions to disperse ? therefore a conclusion must be that there is simply no control over airbourne dust whatsoever thats why i belive that machines shoud have a suction and filtration system around them only then could you consider it a safe environment

vacum filters ......i belive thats hepa filter system a 60mm by 40mm (approx) filter wont secure all the dust in a mail centre i don't think, as for office cleans or 'high level cleans' that does not prevent any particulates from comming off the machines during use and are not done at a sufficent enough intesity often enough down to yes you guessed it ....cutbacks

[BELIAL]

Any MC safety reps out there who can let us Know the results of air quality checks? Particulate density and composition,It's got to be measured,there must be results. Has there been an impact report? I can't find anything ,but you chaps working in it everyday must know it chapter and verse? Let us know what you inhale everyday and the possible health effects