Protecting workers from hand-arm vibration

A huge number of industries rely on manually operated tools that emit vibration during use. As a result of using vibrating machinery workers are sometimes at risk of being overexposed to hand-arm vibration. This guide explores the risk of hand-arm vibration in wet blasting and explains how to prevent workers from developing hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). 

What is hand-arm vibration syndrome?

Wet blasting is becoming increasingly popular in the Aerospace industry as a way of preparing metal surfaces for NDT – and for preparing carbon fibre surfaces for bonding, explains Phil Dawes, Aerospace Sales Engineer at Vapormatt. 

Vapormatt, a world leading specialist in wet blasting for surface preparation and finishing, has signed a new distribution agreement with NGL Cleaning Technology SA to supply a chemical that prevents cobalt leeching during the wet blasting process. 

Vapormatt has launched a new washing and drying machine,  the Vapormatt Ocelot, which is designed to both clean and dry wet blasted cemented carbide inserts at one station prior to coating. This patented innovation from the world-leading wet blasting specialist significantly reduces washing cycles and drying times while also simplifying the process.

As part of the extrusion process there is a vital requirement for the on-going cleaning and polishing of dies. This is a critical operation for the continual production within an extrusion plant but one that is often considered time consuming and full of tedious processes. However, without proper care and attention given to the preparation of dies, extruders risk high extrusion scrap rates and low die success rates.

Wet blasting is a surface finishing technique that uses a suspension of solid particles in a carrier liquid to treat the surface of a material. The principle is straightforward: liquid borne abrasive, or ‘slurry’, is mixed with a pressurised gas, pumped through a nozzle and accelerated across the material’s surface. The elements of the process can be varied widely in order to have a particular effect – from gentle dirt removal to full surface treatment.

As a result of the UK being at the forefront of what is an ever growing composites industry the rate of innovation has been exponential. Driven by the need to reduce weight without compromising structural integrity, the use of composites in the aerospace and automotive industries has been a key focus for many manufacturers. However, as with all manufacturing, there is a need to understand the importance of surface preparation as a means to improve product quality.

The increasing performance demands on machine tools and rising market competition has driven a need for a greater understanding of the manufacturing processes. To produce a high quality and successful cutting tool four elements must be considered. Until recently most consideration has been given to the substrate, geometry and coating processes with a large understanding and several established technologies available. The fourth element, edge preparation, has only recently attracted a wider interest.

Vapormatt has been identified by the London Stock Exchange in a new report as one of the 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain. Vapormatt’s inclusion in the report recognises it as one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most dynamic SMEs. This follows high performance, the development of innovative products and services, and consistent revenue growth over recent years.

Vapormatt, a world leading specialist in wet blasting for surface preparation and finishing, has expanded its global operations with the opening of a new subsidiary based in Sweden. This will further enhance the delivery of wet blasting solutions to businesses in Sweden, Finland, Demark, Norway and the surrounding Scandinavian territories.