Abrasive blasting safety &

health
What are the hazards and how can it
be done safely.

All photos from Adobe Stock

August, 2021 unless otherwise indicated.
 What is abrasive blasting?
A method of removing paint or coating from surfaces using
a granular material with high pressure to blast away dirt,
paint or coating.

YouTube – abrasive blasting

Video clip
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 Abrasive blasting dust
Abrasive blasting puts huge quantities of dust
into the air at high pressure.
The dust is from the abrasive material, the paint
or coating and the substrate itself.

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 What is in abrasive blasting dust?
It depends on what abrasive grit is used, what is in the paint
or coating and what the substrate is:
- some abrasive grit can contain silica or
toxic metals,
- some paints and coating can contain
lead, chromium, cadmium or other toxic
metals, https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthiasxc/3600938116/in/photostream/

- abrasive blasting on concrete creates

large amounts of silica dust.

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 Some common abrasive blasting grits
Steel shot
Aluminum oxide
Silicon carbide
Coal or metal slag
Staurolite
Glass beads
Plastic beads
Walnut shells
Corn cobs
Baking soda
Silica sand should not be used because of its high health hazard.
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 The hazards of Abrasive Grits

Staurolite can contain up to 5% silica

Coal or metal slag can contain small
amounts of toxic metals.
Walnut shells and corn cobs can be a

Center for Disease Control (CDC) photo

fire hazard.

Link to silica dust hazards Silica dust greatly magnified

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What are other safety hazards of abrasive
blasting?
High noise level of abrasive blasting
equipment.
Air quality of the abrasive blasting
hood from a fuel-powered air
compressors.
Heat stress in outdoor abrasive
blasting.

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 Noise levels of abrasive blasting
Noise levels for the person operating the
abrasive blasting equipment can exceed
100 decibels.
The abrasive blasting hood does not
provide enough protection from the
noise. Hearing protection is also
required.
Earplugs are the best hearing protection
for abrasive blasting since they can be
worn inside the hood.
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Supplied air respirator for abrasive blasting
Must use a supplied-air or continuous-flow
respirator that covers and protect the
operator’s head, neck, and shoulders from
rebounding abrasive. (“Type CE respirator”)
It must provide “Grade D” breathing air to
the person wearing the respirator.
The abrasive blasting nozzle must have a
“dead-man switch”– no duct taping the
lever down!

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Abrasive blasting equipment setup

Graphic from Clemco Industries

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 Grade D breathing air quality

carbon
monoxide
3-stage filters monitor

Graphic from Bullard Co.

If breathing air comes from a compressor, air filters and carbon
monoxide monitor are required.
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 Nearby workers
Other workers working nearby
outdoor abrasive blasting can be
exposed to amounts of silica or toxic
metals above safe limits.
Nearby workers can also be exposed
to excessive noise levels from abrasive
blasting.

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 Abrasive blasting booths/rooms

Photos by International Surface Technologies

Used for production work in fixed
locations.
Inside an abrasive blasting booth
A build-your-own booth will most
likely not meet L & I regulations.
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 Wet (slurry) abrasive blasting
Mixing water with an abrasive grit greatly
reduces the amount of dust generated.
New wet blasting equipment uses less
water than older equipment and
generates less waste water to handle.
Some dust will be generated. If silica-
containing grit is used, airborne silica
amounts may still exceed safe limits.

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 Small abrasive blasting booths

Abrasive blasting of small parts can be done without respirators in small

abrasive blasting booths. Any leaks must be fixed to prevent worker exposure.
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 Further information

L & I abrasive blasting regulations

NIOSH – Preventing Silicosis and Deaths from Sandblasting

OSHA – Protecting Workers from the Hazards of Abrasive

Blasting Materials

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