The handling, processing, production and control operations carried out on the production sites generate specific pollution of thermal, mechanical, chemical, nuclear origin …
- These aerosols can be of several types:
Particulate matter : wood dust, flour, metals, glass and carbon fibers, crystalline silicas, lead - Fumes : welding, chemical reaction, thermal pickling, laser
- These aerosols can be of several types:
processes
- Gaseous: acids, cyanides, VOCs, Chromium VI
- Liquids: oil mist, vapors, spray paint
- Odors: perfumes, chemical reactions
- And production waste such as paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, metals …
These pollutants are dispersed in the working environment or towards the atmosphere and expose the operators, the neighborhood, the means of production to sources of atmospheric or thermal pollution …
Operator safety
industrial pollutants have a harmful effect on humans: gases are toxic, irritating, corrosive, can even suffocate; the dust is toxic, fibrotic or pathogenic and can overload the lungs. Operators exposed to aerosols or pollutants risk developing occupational diseases such as skin disorders, poisoning; Rhinitis, Asthma, cancer…
The European Union defined a concept of Exposure Limit Value for the different aerosols in Directive 98/24 / EC dated April 7, 1998. For example, the Average Exposure Value for dust without specific effects is fixed 10 mg / m3 for the inhalable fraction and 5 mg / m3 for the alveolar fraction; the asbestos fiber concentration must not exceed 10 fibers per liter of air sucked in over a period of 8 hours, certain chemical compounds are limited to a few µg / m-3… Some aerosols are also classified CMR – Carcinogenic Mutagenic Reprotoxic, and the exhibition of Man is very framed. The Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) also sets a maximum exposure to radioactive substances of 20 mS / year
WATTOHM acts to limit the exposure of women and men to chemical agents, by sucking pollutants at the source or by implementing general ventilation of buildings aimed at limiting concentration.
Quality of work life
Several studies show that thermal environments deteriorate working conditions and influence productivity.
The ventilation solutions implemented by WATTOHM aim to limit exposure to heat or cold, by extracting hot springs and blowing temperate air into workstations.
Our ventilation systems also suck up sources of humidity, control relative humidity and suck out unpleasant odors.
Protection of the working environment
Pollutants emitted during manufacturing operations disperse in the working environment and settle or condense on machines, floors, frames of industrial buildings. Dust can impair the functioning of electronic sensors, aerosols soil the floors and make them slippery, hydrocarbons deteriorate roof waterproofing systems … Heat and dust also harm electrical and electronic components, they sometimes lead to breakdowns untimely random events that decrease productivity.
Certain gases and fine dusts also have an explosive character, more or less important (Kst, Pmax, EMI, classification of gases…). Under certain conditions (LEL, LES, confined space, etc.), explosive atmospheres (ATEX) can form and cause human and material damage (ruptured eardrum, serious damage to the ears, lungs, projections, etc.), sometimes fatal.
Link to the CARATEX database: https://staubex.ifa.dguv.de/?lang=f
WATTOHM works on industrial sites on several levels. We set up ventilation devices aiming to limit the concentration to values much lower than the LEL to downgrade ATEX zones (example: Centralized cleaning, ventilation controlled by a process). WATTOHM designs and produces ATEX installations according to Directive 2014/34 / EU which have two objectives: ventilation and sanitation of workplaces limit ATEX risks by influencing one of the 6 criteria of an explosion; WATTOHM implements certified safety devices to limit the impact on humans and the environment if necessary.
Process optimization
Optimizing our global solutions by limiting their environmental impact , this is our desire. WATTOHM works to improve processes with the aim of optimizing the energy expenditure of installations.
Adapting the time of use of equipment to the real needs of the workshops generates significant energy savings thus ensuring the safety of operators in its ecosystem within the framework of an eco-responsible .
Ventilation installations consume energy due to the air flow rates involved and the pressure drop generated by the networks and specific accidents (filters, batteries, suction devices, etc.).
WATTOHM optimizes energy consumption , by reducing flows as much as possible, by limiting the air flow resistance of the networks, in the choice of filters with low pressure drop and by the use of a fan with variable flow, adapted to just what is necessary. We are also implementing systems to recover the energy contained in the stale air that is extracted from the processes, to preheat the compensation air in buildings . We are also working with ADEME to offer Energy Saving Certificates (CEE) to limit the environmental impact of our customers.
“Some industries also produce a large amount of production waste such as paper, empty bags, cardboard, aluminum, metal shavings … The suction and the pneumatic transfer, continuously and automatically, of these waste to the dumpsters participates in the 5S production stations, and saves the operating time that a manual operation requires … «
WATTOHM offers eco-responsible solutions aimed at satisfying these specific demands in all industrial sectors.
Atmospheric emissions
Like concentrations at workstations, atmospheric emissions are standardized and regularly checked by DREAL in France, by private organizations and international control offices
For example, the ministerial decree of February 2, 1988 fixes a limit value of concentration of 40 mg / m3 in dust; the permissible concentration for fluorinated elements is 5 mg / m3; the concentration limit value for asbestos is 1 mg / m3; the mercury emission limit value in the steel industry is 0.5 mg / m3. (see full texts on the aida.ineris.fr website)
WATTOHM intervenes, designs and builds installations in accordance with the regulations in force, depending on the type of pollutant, the classification of the site, etc. This conformity is checked by an authorized body during the reception phase of the installation.
