Here are a few tips for what you can and cannot do during dry ice blasting.
Dry ice blasting is highly effective for sanitizing the different areas of your property. It’s popular in many industries as a cleaning option, such as in the food packaging and cleaning industries. A concern with dry ice blasting is that it must be done safely because dry ice that is mishandled can be dangerous. Here are a few tips for what you can and cannot do during dry ice blasting.
Do Wear Protective Attire
You must wear protection such as goggles and gloves when you handle dry ice. Leather gloves are recommended to keep your skin safe, and keeping your skin protected is highly important because dry ice that makes contact with skin can inflict burns.
Don’t Set Dry Ice Equipment Down
Avoid placing dry ice equipment anywhere that would allow it to crack through a surface. Such spots to avoid include floors and tile countertops. If you don’t set the equipment down, you have a much lower chance of damaging your property during the dry ice blasting process.
Do Use the Right Storage Techniques
Keep your dry ice stored in containers that have plenty of insulation. At the same time, though, don’t have dry ice stored in airtight containers because this will cause whatever container you’re using to explode. Understanding the difference between insulated containers and airtight options will be the difference when trying to preserve your equipment and the dry ice stored inside of it.
Do Not Perform Dry Ice Blasting in Stuffy Areas
Dry ice blasting should only ever be done in areas with a lot of open space and sufficient airflow. The areas in which you work should have good ventilation, ensuring they get plenty of fresh air. If you think it’s necessary, open some doors up or even open windows to get the airflow you need.
Never allow yourself to be exposed to carbon dioxide during the dry ice blasting process because carbon dioxide is incredibly dangerous while cleaning. To keep carbon dioxide exposure from happening, you should let as much fresh air into the area as you can.
Do Supervise When Engaging in Dry Ice Blasting
If you didn’t know, dry ice is a variation of carbon dioxide, and it is dangerous when inhaled. People can suffer from shortness of breath, headaches, blue lips, and dizziness.
Do Not Sublimate Improperly
After you finish performing dry ice blasting for your property, you have to put the dry ice away, which is known as sublimating. Because dry ice is gaseous, it has to get absorbed into the atmosphere. Just be sure that the area in which dry ice sublimates has good ventilation and that it is somewhere no one is going to touch, preferably somewhere non-intrusive.
Dry ice sublimates at around 2-10 percent every day, which will vary based on how much insulation the container holding the dry ice has. Because dry ice is 79 degrees Celsius below 0, it will sublimate if it isn’t stored in a container with sufficient insulation.
Choose AEG Environmental for Your Dry Ice Blasting Services
We are a trusted team of ice blasting service technicians. Don’t risk your safety and health! If there has been a hazardous mess of any kind, call us today and get the best and most efficient ice blasting services!