Evaluation of ventilated sanders in the autobody repair industry

Orbital and reciprocating sanders were evaluated in autobody shops to obtain information on the ability of the sanders to control worker dust exposures. Air is exhausted from ventilated sanders at a rate of 0.25 to 1.0 m3/min. When unventilated sanders were used, short-term total dust exposures ranged between 2 and 170 mg/m3. When ventilated sanders were used, short-term total exposures ranged between 0.22 and 1.2 mg/m3. Aerosol photometer measurements showed that ventilation decreased dust exposure by a factor of 10 when body-filling compound was sanded. These results indicate that the use of sanders equipped with high-velocity, low-volume ventilation should be encouraged in the autobody repair industry.