Dust Control for Animal Feed Manufacturing: All you need to know

How dust in animal feed manufacturing is created

Dust in animal feed manufacturing is typically created during the grinding, mixing, and pelleting processes. During grinding, feed ingredients are broken down into smaller particles, increasing the surface area and creating a lot of dust. The grinding process is usually followed by a mixing raw material together further increases dust levels. Finally, during the pelleting process, feed is compressed into pellets, creating more dust.

Damaging Effects of Grain Dust

Grain dust can have several damaging effects on people and the environment.

Severe Health Concerns

Inhalation of grain dust can cause serious respiratory illnesses, such as occupational asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It can also irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.

Costly Equipment Damage

Grain dust is combustible, creating a risk of fire or explosion, and can also clog machinery, leading to costly repairs. In many cases, the damage will be irreversible and could require expensive replacement.

What Are the Exposure Limits of Grain Dust in The Workplace?

The HSE has established that the workplace exposure limit (WEL) for grain dust in the workplace is 10 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) as a time-weighted average (TWA) for an 8-hour work shift. However, the TWA should not exceed 30 mg/m3 over 15 minutes. It is important to note that HSE recommends that employers strive to keep worker exposure to grain dust as low as possible and utilize engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment to minimize exposure.

Control Of Exposure To Grain Dust

Controlling exposure to grain dust is essential for anyone dealing with grain as a mass-produced base product.

• Investing in in a correctly designed LEV system at the primary sources of dust exposure in your work area is the most effective way to reduce the dust in the air.
• Furthermore, wearing appropriate PPE such as a face mask, safety glasses, and gloves, is important to minimize your exposure to grain dust.
• Additionally, regularly inspect your work environment for dust build up and clean it up as needed. Finally, be sure to take regular breaks and keep yourself hydrated while working in dusty environments.

Control of fire and explosion risk in animal feed production

Dust in animal feed manufacturing can pose a severe risk of fire and explosion if not appropriately managed. Dust particles can accumulate in facility areas, creating a dust cloud that explode if exposed to an ignition source such as an open flame, spark, or static electricity. It is important to properly maintain the filtration equipment, use good housekeeping practices, and remove all combustible dust from the facility to reduce the risk.

LEV Systems for Animal Feed

If you're looking for LEV systems for animal feed production, integratedAIR is happy to help. Our BlueClean® dust filter units offer various options to meet your specific needs and are perfect for small or large-scale production. Additionally, our knowledgeable team can advise and guide you in choosing the right dust control system for your application. We also offer services for system expansions and reworks. Reach out to our Sales Team today.

Contact our Team!

Are you exposed to dust and fumes from animal feed production and are looking for an effective dust extraction system?
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