The Dangers of Oil Mist & Smoke
Oil mist and oil smoke are generated during hot manufacturing processes - when high-coolant pressures become combined with the high operating speeds of machines. The higher the machine speeds and coolant pressure are, the smaller the oil mist will be until drops become so small they turn into oil smoke.
Oil smoke is composed of the same droplets as oil mist but is made up of smaller particles and tends to materialize into larger volumes. The volume of particulate produced will vary based on the application and can range from mild amounts of oil mist to high amounts of oil smoke.
Machining processes can form oil mist, oil smoke, or a variation of both. When oil mist and smoke settles on machinery, work surfaces, and floors, it slows down production, increases maintenance costs, and can result in severe employee injuries.
Repeat exposure to oil mist and smoke can cause a variety of health effects, including but not limited to shortness of breath, vomiting, fever, lipoid pneumonia, lung fibrosis, and more.
