by CharlieB | Dec 21, 2016
The romantic side of me likes to imagine dust as a signifier of age and wisdom. I picture an old dusty library, books brimming with secrets waiting to be imparted. In reality, dust is a big problem for a lot of people. In your home, dust is unsightly. Far from your house appearing mysterious and interesting, you come across more that you don’t know how to take care of yourself. Think about it: have you ever been inside of a dusty room and found it pleasant? The problem is even worse for the manufacturing industry, where dust should not be tolerated whatsoever. KenBay knows that dealing with excess of any kind requires the right tools and the right mindset. You may think you need a dust collector in order to handle this problem — but think again!
Why Dust is a Problem
Dust may not be called “The Silent Killer” — that distinction goes to mold, high blood pressure, and carbon monoxide— but it can still do a lot of damage. On the one hand, there’s the basic issue of cleanliness. After all, nobody wants to work in a dirty environment, and you need to keep your employees happy. But there are deeper concerns at play here. The World Health Organization actually has listed airborne dust as a major workplace hazard because it can lead to disease, disability and even death. “But it’s just dust!” you may say. “I see it all the time! It can’t be that bad.” On the contrary: under the right circumstances, dust inhalation can lead to infertility or even cancer. How can this be?
Dust is composed of micro particles that come off the everyday materials around you. Anything small enough to be broken down into tiny bits and light enough to be tossed about in the air. If you live in a regular household environment, dust is little more than an annoyance. However, in the manufacturing industry, you are surrounded by toxic materials which then contaminate the dust and, subsequently, your lungs. At low exposure, you’re probably safe. The more dust you are exposed to, however, the greater risk you have of serious health complications. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has a comprehensive list of the effects dust has on the body, as well as diseases that dust exposure can lead to. When it comes to your employees, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Skip the Dust Collector, Find a Better Answer
So what can you do to keep your work environment safe and your employees happy? One easy solution is to acquire a dust collector. We, however, are not quite satisfied with that idea. For one thing, a dust collector is only used after the dust has had time to settle in. For another, you (or one of your employees) will need to spend quite a bit of time cleaning with one to make sure everything is dust free. We believe there is a better way — a KenBay Rotopac! Our RotoPacs are hooded, so the dust never goes into the air in the first place. And they are small enough to be placed at the source of the waste, so everything is more efficient. You get a cleaner environment, no contamination, and safer conditions for your employees. If you are interested in trying out one of KenBay’s RotoPacs for yourself, then you can try it before you buy it through our website!
by LaurenL | Oct 21, 2016
We know that businesses face a unique set of waste management challenges when they handle hazardous substances. Where others can send their waste to a landfill or Waste to Energy plant without a second thought, these businesses must consider additional steps. Because the responsible disposal of hazardous substances is different than the disposal of other waste products, businesses should have a separate waste management plan for hazardous materials. While daunting, it’s important to consider these processes and look for ways to improve upon them.
What are Hazardous Substances?
One challenge that manufactures sometimes face is knowing exactly what is considered a hazardous substance. To effectively manage hazardous waste, it is important to know the EPA and OSHA hazardous substance definition. It’s also important to know the state and federal requirements and laws that dictate how hazardous waste must be managed. Some of the most common types of hazardous substances often include:
- Ignitable items that easily catch on fire like solvents, paint, and gasoline
- Corrosive waste that “eats” something else, including battery acid, caustic paint strippers, and some floor cleaners
- Reactive waste that is unstable or explosive like certain cyanide and sulfide-bearing waste
- Toxic substances that are harmful when ingested or absorbed like gasoline and solvents
These are just a few hazardous substances examples. When you look for ways to improve your processes for handling hazardous waste, do thorough research. Look for a hazardous substances list that is specific to your industry, and be sure you understand the legal requirements for disposing of it.
Evaluate Your Process Repeatedly
One of the best ways you can improve your processes for handling hazardous substances is by simply monitoring your processes more often. First, you’ll need to create a plan for handling hazardous waste, using industry, state, and federal guidelines. Then, you need to evaluate that plan repeatedly. To ensure that your system is up-to-date, efficient, and safe, you need to reevaluate your procedures from time to time. At least once every quarter, set aside time to take a look at the waste products in your business. Then, find ways to improve your process.
Handle Hazardous Substances Less Often
It goes without saying that the safest way to handle hazardous substances is to not handle it all. Take a significant step to improving your processes for safely handling hazardous substances by finding ways to handle dangerous waste less often. To do this, consider a small footprint compactor that can be placed at the source of hazardous waste.
Hazardous waste compactors like our HazPac allow you to handle dangerous substances less often. In addition, the HazPac has a small footprint, high compaction rate, ease of use, and a unique ability to compact waste into bulk bags or into hazardous waste boxes. This makes our hazardous waste compactor ideal for compacting hazardous waste for transporting. In addition, because of the HazPac’s small footprint, it can be placed close to the source hazardous material generation, saving travel time and increasing safety and efficiency.
Learn More about KenBay’s Waste Management Products
We know that waste management can be a burden. But, with KenBay, you’ll have the tools you need to help make the job a little easier. The next time you evaluate your waste products and waste management strategy, consider integrating one of our industrial trash compactors into your processes.
Don’t let something like a waste get in the way of your business operations. If you’re interested in trash compactors or finding a committed consultant to help you reduce your waste, call KenBay. We can tell you more about our services, no matter what industry you’re in, or how much waste you are creating!
Photo credit: Getty Images / svengine
by charlotte | May 20, 2016
Paint disposal or storage can be a daunting task whether you’re dealing with a small home supply or an industrial facility with various paints and solvents to consider. With just a few protocols, you can be sure that your paint disposal is always safe and environmentally sound, no matter the quantities you’re handling. Taking care of your paint disposal in the proper way will do more than just ensure the safe handling of hazardous waste, it will also save you money in long run, and reduce risk in either your workplace or home.
Reduce Your Need for Paint Disposal
Whether you’ve recently repainted your house, or work in the autobody business and go through gallons every day, proper paint disposal is equally important to consider. But before you get to that step, there are many measures you can take to reduce the amount of waste you have when the job is done. First, make sure that you can return any unopened paint cans or spray bottles. You will not only get reimbursed and save yourself some money, but it will also ensure that the paint actually gets used instead of thrown away. Safely store some of the leftover paint in a cool dark location for touch ups, and be sure it is tightly sealed. You can even switch it into smaller airtight containers to save space or get a better seal. Properly stored paints and solvents will usually remain safe to use for up to ten years, so give them a permanent home that is out of the reach of the kids. There are also ways of re-tinting paint to use it for new or different purposes than you originally bought it for.
Leftover Paint Disposal
If there is still paint or solvents (often used for cleaning) that you cannot repurpose or save for future use, you will need to find the proper means to dispose of them. These materials are usually considered liquid hazardous waste, so they cannot go in the dumpster. Call your local waste sector to find out how you ought to handle paint disposal, which will typically involve a certain kind of airtight container for paint. It will also have to be kept separate from the rest of your waste and recycling to ensure that contamination does not occur.
Solid Waste in Paint Disposal
A paint can or spray bottle is considered empty if it has less than one inch of paint at the bottom of it. Empty the vessel by either pouring or pumping the paint out of it, and once you have done this, it is considered recyclable, in which case you take the usual measures to separate it out from landfill waste. If paint cans are a significant portion of your waste, you might want to consider investing in a trash compactor that will help you consolidate the otherwise non-pliable materials to save time and money on your recycling efforts. A trash compactor will reduce the size of your waste at a rate of six to one.
When tackling your paint disposal process, keep these things in mind. If you’re dealing with paint disposal on a large scale, call KenBay for an expert opinion on your particular waste management needs.
