Concrete Grinding and Cutting Made Safer For Contractors with Gelmaxx Slurry Solution
San Diego, California (PRWEB) October 22, 2013 -- Many are aware of the harmful effects of concrete dust, aka crystalline silica, and make a conscious effort to protect themselves from overexposure. However, countless lives are still being impacted from the negative effects of silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. On August 23, 2013, OSHA proposed new standards to toughen its regulation of silica dust exposure, like turning toward wet methods. Water effectively eliminates silica dust, and keep workers safe. As the water combines with the concrete dust, it creates slurry that Gelmaxx helps dispose of safely in any standard trash can.
Crystalline silica is a slow acting agent that does not pose a problem until it is too late. Silicosis results from exposure to low concentrations of silica dust over a long period of time, which usually spans from ten or more years. This slow process lures contractors into a false sense of hope that their health is unaffected, but their lungs are slowly deteriorating. Lungs are naturally able to filter out regular dust and dirt, but silica dust is too small for the lungs’ filtering system to be effective.
Currently, the daily permissible exposure limit (PEL) is about 100 µg (micrograms)/M3 for most industries and 250 µg/M3 for construction. With OSHA’s new proposal, they would like to cut this limit in half to 50 µg/M3 throughout every industry.
To help keep worker exposure at the new PEL, OSHA would require new work practices like engineering controls, respiratory protection, periodic exposure assessment, medical surveillance, employee information and training, and regulated areas and access controls. With all of these new standard practices, although practical and necessary, silica dust prevention will become costly on the employers and time consuming for the industry. Turning to a wet alternative is an extremely efficient and affordable direction to take.
By using water to subdue the crystalline silica, it creates wet slurry that Gelmaxx helps dispose of responsibly. The two-part Gelmaxx system first separates the water from the concrete slurry with the AQUAmaxx separator. By separating the water, you are reducing your waste and producing clean water that you can reuse in your machines. To dispose of the leftover slurry, it is against the law to dump it down the drain or down the sewer. By using the ECO-QUICKgel solidifier, it absorbs the liquid and turns it into a dry material that is safe to dispose directly into any standard trash can. Feel confident because Gelmaxx is EPA compliant and eco-friendly.
Currently, these standards are merely a proposal by OSHA, but it demonstrates the direction that the concrete industry is heading towards. Contractors will need to adopt a wet cutting or grinding method, and Gelmaxx will provide the ultimate concrete slurry solution.
Gelmaxx, based in California, was established in 2011 and provides contractors slurry solutions specifically designed to help during all parts of the cleanup phase. Gelmaxx was founded by a grinding and polishing expert who understands the challenges the industry faces with strict regulations and growing cost of doing business. For more information, visit http://www.gelmaxxusa.com.
Paul Nguyen, Gelmaxx - Concrete Slurry Solutions, http://www.gelmaxxusa.com, +1 855-322-3335 1, [email protected]
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