"The Dustlight not only offers Kneipp precise monitoring of dust exposure, but also provides crucial data that improves employee safety - with immediate, noticeable effects in production."
- Simon Mohr told us about the use of the Dustlight at Kneipp.
Background
Kneipp uses around 800 different raw materials, including silicon dioxide (silica), valerian root powder and hawthorn, a natural product that is supplied as a dry product. In the case of amorphous silica, for example, FFP3 masks are mandatory to protect employees from health risks.
Simon Mohr is an environmental engineer at Kneipp and has been responsible for internal projects in the field of ventilation and environmental systems for 4 1/2 years. Since last year, he has also been working as a safety specialist (SiFa).
The challenge
At Kneipp, raw materials such as valerian root powder and silica are processed during the weighing of substances and filling of the compacting systems.
Despite the use of laminar flow blowers and point extraction systems to reduce dust exposure, there was uncertainty about how much dust employees were actually exposed to.
The high-performance systems significantly reduced dust generation, but there was a lack of objective data to confirm the efficiency of these systems. Simon asked himself whether the existing measures were sufficient or whether additional stationary measurements were necessary.
Solution
Due to the uncertainty about dust pollution and the effectiveness of the existing measures, Simon looked for a solution. He discovered the Dustlight, a device developed for direct, indicative measurements. It enables dust exposure to be recorded quickly and precisely in real time without the need for complex stationary measurements.
The system was used in production and logistics to obtain an initial assessment of the strain on employees and to clarify the need for further measures.
You can find more information about the Dustlight here.
Results
The introduction of the Dustlight was received positively by the employees. It was appreciated that the issue of dust pollution was actively addressed and made visible as a precautionary measure. The measurements showed that the existing equipment such as the laminar flow blowers and point extraction systems are already significantly reducing dust pollution.
The weighing process, which only takes a few minutes, was adapted to significantly reduce dust generation. The short exposure time of the employees and the variety of raw materials used made stationary measurements difficult, so the Dustlight was an excellent solution for direct visual and acoustic feedback.
The measurement results are documented by the Dustlight while employees make a note of the activity and fabric use. The results can then be downloaded as a report, which Simon collects and uses to make long-term suggestions on production methods. This not only helps with the evaluation of existing measures, but also with the planning of future improvements.
Summary
The Dustlight has proven to be a valuable tool for Kneipp to effectively monitor and assess dust exposure. By quickly and accurately recording dust exposure, Simon has been able to confirm that the dust reduction measures in place are largely effective. The positive reception of the system by employees and the valuable data that can be used for future adjustments underline the benefits of the Dustlight in Kneipp's production environment.
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