Plenty of things can cause disruption in the workflow at an industrial complex. This is especially true for people who work around chemicals in labs, as they must take extra precautions in everything they do. Certain regulations and restrictions ensure the health and safety of those employees to prevent their exposure to certain chemicals that could be toxic.
If workers are properly trained on these procedures, they’ll know what a fume hood is and how it works; this knowledge will allow them to complete their daily tasks free from harm. It will also allow them to properly train new hires at any given time.
Definition of a Fume Hood
The purpose of a fume hood is to reduce the risk of exposure of an employee who works around harmful gases and chemicals that could be harmful to their health. The hood intentionally moves these fumes away from the worker for a safer working environment.
Types of Hoods
Custom plastic parts manufacturers typically make three variations of fume hoods. First, the constant air volume hood (CAV) has one speed that allows full-flow air stability. The second is called a variable air volume hood (VAV), which has adjustable speeds for the velocity of airflow that the user can control. The last is known as a reduced air volume hood (RAV), which allows only low-volume airflow; this is perfect for fewer toxic compounds in the air.
The levels of harmful toxins and chemicals that permeate the air depend on the industry. These three types of hoods were created to fit the right conditions.
How Does a Fume Hood Work?
A fume hood uses what’s called a sash, which is a window that opens and closes, to protect the user. The sash keeps vapors away from the face and prevents them from moving into the air and into individuals’ lungs. This is extremely important for lab and chemical areas that produce gases and vapors.
Companies that produce chemicals and that have employees who work around those products are responsible for those workers. Therefore, these workers are liabilities to their employers, and companies must take every precaution to protect them. Because of this, investing in equipment such as fume hoods is completely essential to these work environments. It’s equally as important to educate employees on what a fume hood is and how it works so that they know how to properly carry out their jobs.
