Identifying and dealing with an oil mist issue

When machining metal parts, a natural byproduct of the machining process is coolant mist. This may be purely a mist, when a coolant emulsion is used; or may also include smoke if the coolant is neat oil.  Sadly, these mists and smokes come with a range of additives that could impact human health. Therefore, getting rid of oil mist is an absolute priority for workplace safety and hygiene.

Oil mists are a form of aerosol formed when oil emulsions are used to lubricate machinery during the machining of metals and ceramics. While they can be as much as 95% water, they can contain other aerosols and additives. Many of these are undisclosed but are recognised as being potentially harmful to human health and wellbeing.

With that in mind, you want to make sure that you do as much as possible to stop the spread of oil mist and oil smoke. It’s repeated and regular exposure to these substances, which can be harmful to the human body; as such, it is essential, they are dealt with as soon as possible. Oil mist can also result in the development of oily spots, leading to slippery floors and workstations.

It can also lead to a loss of productivity, as a thin film of oil can form on things like circuitry boards for equipment. This reduces performance and can create unacceptable working conditions. Oil mist, when released free into the air, is not a good thing. Not only is it damaging to human health, but it is an environmental issue, and its production without a solution is seen as an environmental hazard in most UK workplaces.

Dealing with oil mist, then, becomes essential.

Identifying and removing oil mist

It is often easy to spot oil mist, as it can be visible on the walls, floors, and machinery you are using. It can even be seen under the ceiling; if you need extra proof, use a backlight to help spot the signs of oil mist particles. In addition, you could use a device to help understand the level of oil mist that is in the air. This gives you a clear indication of where solutions are most likely going to be needed.

You can use oil mist filtration to help deal with oil mist where it is most produced. Oil Mist Filters and Extractors can also be installed, ensuring that oil mist is not building up when grinding, turning, drilling, etc.

Oil Mist Filters (OMF) should be installed on as much machinery as possible, but the machinery that can reach speeds of 20,000RPM and above should be seen as your priority. This will ensure that you can filter out the oil mist quickly and easily, ensuring that build-ups become a fraction of the scale dealt with previously. 

While many modern machinery parts do all they can to avoid oil mist build-up, it is still important to install oil mist filters. The sooner you minimise and remove oil mist and oil smoke, the healthier and safer your workplace is. Boost productivity, working quality, and environmental standards today with oil mist filtration.