Guidance Document
A GUIDE TO MANAGING AIR
QUALITY FOR WAREHOUSE &
DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES
2015
CLEAN AIR SOLUTIONS
A guide to managing air quality within warehousing and distribution facilities Dust and dirt problems are more the rule than the exception for warehousing and logistics management companies. This guidance document will determine the health effects of poor air quality within warehousing and distribution facilities, along with its causes and how it can be prevented. The Problem Dust and airborne particles from warehouse and distribution processes can cause problems not only with packaging machinery performance, but more importantly to the health of the workforce. This type of application results in a heavy airborne dust load that can cause machinery to become clogged which can also affect output efficiency and generate the need for additional cleaning requirements. More worryingly, there are a number of pollutants that can be found within Camfil UK – A Guide to Managing Air Quality in Warehousing & Distribution Facilities – November 2015 warehousing and logistics premises such as, nitrogen oxides, NO and NO2, which are emitted by diesel vehicles, often within the loading bay or collection points within this type of premises. There is a significant risk factor that goes along with having these toxins in warehouses and distribution facilities and it is important to understand more about them. Reason for dust: truck traffic, handling of goods, sorting machines, packaging materials, street dust, pollution and pollen from outside. Bacteria, dust, viruses and harmful particles in the air may cause itchy eyes, headaches, blocked noses and can give rise to asthma and irritation of the respiratory tract. Workers within warehouses and logistics plant are often exposed to varying degrees of pollutants, making air quality a critical safety issue for anyone working within these environments. Poor air quality has a huge impact on a person’s health, and therefore, their ability to work. As there is a significant risk factor that goes along with having these toxins in the warehouse it is important to know more about them. What causes poor indoor air quality in warehousing and distribution facilities? There are a number of factors that result in poor indoor air quality within warehouses, distribution and logistics facilities including: Camfil UK – A Guide to Managing Air Quality in Warehousing & Distribution Facilities – November 2015 •
Exhaust fumes from pick up and drop off of goods around loading bays •
Emissions from manufacturing and picking and packing processes •
Poor ventilation, particularly in winter when warehouses are sealed off from the cold •
Poor maintenance of ventilation and HVAC systems •
Forklift idling or length of operation •
Failure to verify emission tests of rental forklifts •
Outdoor pollution coming in The Solution Poor air quality affects both the health of staff and their performance. Harmful particles in the air may cause itchy eyes, headaches and a blocked nose. The Camfil range of air cleaners (CamCleaners), purify the air and effectively combat these problems. This contributes to improved work performance, reduced absence due to illness, and air that feels easy to breathe for everyone in the workplace. CamCleaner™ is a range of patented air purifiers with the most efficient HEPA filters on the market. They work as a supplement to existing ventilation systems and provide reduced energy costs, more efficient production and a healthier work environment by removing dust, contaminants and harmful particles. When the air is free from particles and dust, products are protected and therefore waste levels reduced. Parts of the premises that are difficult to clean are kept clean for longer and the cleaning frequency may be reduced by up to 50 per cent. Your ventilation system needs help. Efficient filtering of outdoor air is not enough when the air is polluted indoors. And it will be. Camfil air cleaners for industrial and process applications are equipped with the most efficient Absolute™ HEPA filter. The product range for indoor air excellence Camfil UK – A Guide to Managing Air Quality in Warehousing & Distribution Facilities – November 2015 have been developed to suit all applications and are available in a variety of sizes. It is an investment in reduced energy costs, no more odors, healthier working environment with less dust and fewer harmful particles. Camfil’s air purifiers have been developed to suit all applications and are available in a variety of sizes. Each CamCleaner™ has the capacity to clean the air within a designated space from small office environments to large industrial spaces such as warehousing and distribution facilities. CamCleaner Fact File: •
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Cleaner products, less downtime Reduced cleaning costs Low energy costs Reduced environmental impact Less waste Healthier employees Even temperature distribution in high-­‐ ceilinged rooms Elimination of most air impurities, e.g. tobacco smoke, welding fumes, construction dust, and particles of all sizes down to ultrafine. The industrial range suited to warehousing and distribution facilities include: •
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CamCleaner 6000 air purification for spaces up to 1000m2 CamCleaner 30000 air purification for spaces up to 2000m2 Air cleaners for offices located near to the warehouse and distribution facilities include: •
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CamCleaner City M air cleaners air purification for spaces up to 75m2 CamCleaner 300 air purification for spaces up to 25m2 CamCleaner 800 air purification for spaces up to 65m2 CamCleaner 2000 air purification for spaces up to 200m2 The air purification requirement for each environment varies depending upon number of employees and work carried out within the space. Whether the space is a manufacturing facility producing high levels of dust or a distribution centre for storing food for retail, there is a CamCleaner™ air purifier designed to cater to its requirements. Camfil UK – A Guide to Managing Air Quality in Warehousing & Distribution Facilities – November 2015 Installing the correct CamCleaner™ air purifier within the working environment leads to improved performance, reduced absence due to illness, and produces air that feels easy to breathe. The Camfil Air Cleaners is a range of patented air cleaners with the most efficient Absolute™ HEPA filters on the market. The Air Cleaner Product Range is design to fit in food and beverage industries, warehouses, packaging and distribution centres, freight terminals and parcel depots up to 2000 square meters. COSHH Air cleaners can help organisations to ensure compliance with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines, and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Work Exposure Limits (WELs). Reducing exposure to harmful particles is not only important for legal compliance, it is also important for the health safety and wellbeing of employees. View our Logistics sector Case studies: Case Study 1 -­‐ CamCleaner 6000 in the high-­‐rack storage area of the Schwarz Logistics Warehouse in aalen-­‐ ebnat – wall mounted version. Case Study 2 -­‐ CamCleaner 6000 and CamCleaner 30000 air purifiers in the halls of DB Schenker AB’s parcel centre in Stockholm, the hub of their North European logistics operations. Camfil UK – A Guide to Managing Air Quality in Warehousing & Distribution Facilities – November 2015 What our customers say: “Due to a significant reduction in the amount of particles in the air, parcel sorting now proceeds without a hitch. There are no more errors as a result of dust gathering on the parcel machine sensors and fire alarm sensors. At the same time, the improvement in air quality has increased the productivity and well-­‐being of staff.” Lars Karlsson, Facilities Manager at the DB Schenker parcel centre. Camfil are currently offering a no obligation IAQ particle analysis for UK Warehousing & Distribution Centres. This will advise on the concentrations of any airborne contaminants. They can also provide further testing and analysis for VOCs and aldehydes, should this be required. To validate this process, they will demonstrate their high performance mobile air cleaners. These are fitted with the most efficient Absolute™ HEPA filters on the market. To arrange an IAQ particle analysis test, email [email protected] www.camfil.co.uk Camfil UK – A Guide to Managing Air Quality in Warehousing & Distribution Facilities – November 2015