The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

I use aluminium oxide in a sandblasting machine with no bags or filters

I'm using aluminium oxide in a sandblasting machine, but it has no bags or filters installed. I'm concerned about my health as I've used it a few years now and was recently very ill with being very anemic, the doctor said I could have died as my blood levels was so low. what can I do as I work for someone who I think doesn't really care and also treats me like sh*t. sorry for swearing! I'm just abit worried.

Gary Hill
employee - West Sussex, England
August 25, 2009

---

August 28, 2009

Gary,

We cannot advise you on health issues I am afraid, we will have to leave that to the physicians.

What I can say though is that the UK has a strict set of health and safety laws that you and your employer have to obey. The Health & Safety at Work Act and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) put obligations upon your employer to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments and CoSHH assessments when using hazardous materials. It is emcumbent on you to strictly adhere to these assessments, unless you feel that they put your health at risk. If this is thas case you HAVE to talk to your employer. You may be considered liable to damaging your own health by either not complying with the assessments or by not stopping a process if you consider that it could be damaging.

For further advice check out the HSE website at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/

Hope this helps.

Brian Terry
Aerospace - Yeovil, Somerset, UK