Introducing tools and technologies to support exposure-control plans

Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) today announced a series of solutions designed to help businesses implement housekeeping plans to support the control of potentially dangerous silica dust, and respond to OSHA’s Silica Dust Rule that requires compliance by June 23, 2017, in the construction industry and June 23, 2018, in general industry.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170314005298/en/

Tennant’s S30 Rider Sweeper with HEPA filtration helps clean in heavy-dust environments. (Photo: Business Wire)

Crystalline silica is a mineral that is commonly occurring in many natural materials that are used in construction and industrial products. Crystalline silica becomes hazardous when certain activities generate respirable dust that becomes airborne. Stone and mortar, concrete and sand contain crystalline silica. It is used to create glass, artificial stone, ceramics, pottery and bricks, as well as industrial sand used in fracking and foundry work. Because it appears in so many different products across a variety of industries, an estimated 2.3 million workers in the U.S. are exposed to it.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, under the purview of the World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that a person who is exposed to respirable crystalline silica has an increased risk of developing lung cancer. It has been designated a known human carcinogen by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toxicology Program. These determinations, combined with the numerous supporting studies, have prompted OSHA’s rule to limit the permissible exposure level (PEL) to 50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour day, in an effort to better protect the health of workers in the affected industries.

Tennant SolutionsTennant Company has assembled a wide range of silica dust solutions specifically engineered and manufactured to support OSHA silica dust control housekeeping requirements and help businesses work toward OSHA compliance:

  • Wet Sweeping is effective in most applications. Several Tennant rider-sweepers can be used for wet sweeping. A continual water spray provides a shield of moisture on side brushes to keep the silica dust moist until it is swept up and contained within the hopper.
  • Water Flooding is a very effective means of silica dust control in certain applications. All Tennant scrubbers, including walk-behind and ride-on machines, can be used for water flooding. Tennant scrubbers use water to contain and prevent silica dust from becoming airborne, then remove the wet dust from floor surfaces.
  • Dry Sweeping with HEPA Filtration is an OSHA-allowable solution in applications where other methods, such as wet sweeping or HEPA vacuums, are not feasible. Several Tennant walk-behind and ride-on sweepers are available with HEPA filtration systems. These Tennant sweepers operate with a dry system that provides a filtration efficiency of 99.97% to 0.3 microns. They utilize existing multi-stage Tennant filtration systems, adding a final-stage HEPA system to collect and contain smaller particles. For additional operator protection, HEPA-pressurized cabs are available on select models.

“Tennant Company is committed to providing viable solutions for industrial housekeeping challenges and equipment that make workplaces healthier,” said Dave Huml, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for Tennant Company. “We are committed to protecting the health and safety of our customers’ employees, as well as helping our customers maintain OSHA compliance.”

Key dates for the OSHA compliance schedule include:

  • Construction - June 23, 2017.
  • General Industry and Maritime - June 23, 2018.
  • Hydraulic Fracturing (Engineering Controls) - June 23, 2021.

Company ProfileMinneapolis-based Tennant Company (TNC) is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions that empower customers to achieve quality cleaning performance, significantly reduce their environmental impact and help create a cleaner, safer, healthier world. Its products include equipment for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor environments; detergent-free and other sustainable cleaning technologies; and coatings for protecting, repairing and upgrading surfaces. Tennant's global field service network is the most extensive in the industry. Tennant has manufacturing operations in Minneapolis, MN; Holland, MI; Louisville, KY; Chicago, IL; Uden, The Netherlands; São Paulo, Brazil; and Shanghai, China; and sells products directly in 15 countries and through distributors in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit www.tennantco.com. The Tennant Company logo and other trademarks designated with the symbol “®” are trademarks of Tennant Company registered in the United States and/or other countries.

Tennant CompanyKathryn Lovik, 763-540-1212Global Communications Directorkathryn.lovik@tennantco.com

Tennant (NYSE:TNC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Mar 2024 Click Here for more Tennant Charts.
Tennant (NYSE:TNC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2023 to Mar 2024 Click Here for more Tennant Charts.