Safety Guidelines When Using Air Hoses
With the invention of machines that can compress air at very high pressures and the ability to harness it to make our tasks easier and quicker is an achievement that has revolutionized the way we work. Heavy objects are lifted without too much muscle, nails are driven and bolts are tightened with a slight pull of the forefinger, and concrete pavement is broken without swinging sledgehammers. All these are because of compressed air. Its power, however, can work for and against you. While it substantially makes work easier, it can also, when handled inappropriately, cause injury.
Compressed air is usually handled via an air hose attached to an air compressor. To avoid accidents, therefore, care must be taken when working with an air hose spewing out compressed air. There are guidelines you can follow to keep yourself from injuries.
Compressed air, even at 15 PSI, is sufficiently strong to cause bodily injury. An air hose, therefore, should never be used to remove dirt or other debris from the body as it could send them flying into your eyes. You can, however, use it to clean your tools, but be sure not to exceed 30 PSI in keeping with OSHA regulations. And do not forget to wear eye protection.
Apart from shielding your eyes from flying objects, you should also protect your ears. The sound of compressed air hissing as it escapes from the hose can be loud and thus impair your hearing in the long run.
When coupling or uncoupling air hoses, be sure to shut the air supply valve and bleed them first to remove all pressure. Before making connections, check if the fittings on both ends match each other. Ill-fitting connections can abruptly disconnect and cause the air hose to whip violently.
Regularly check your hoses for fraying, tears, or any other form of damage. A sudden rupture resulting from them can also cause whipping.
Before opening the air valve of the compressor, be sure that the free end is secured. A sudden gush of air through it can make it whip. Also, when you open the valve, do it slowly. This will prevent any obstruction inside the air hose from turning into a projectile as it is suddenly pushed out.
By strictly adhering to these guidelines, you substantially diminish the possibility of accidents and injuries both to you and the people around you.