What is BS EN 15051-1 - Requirements for measuring the dustiness of bulk materials about?
BS EN 15051 is a European standard on workplace exposure. BS EN 15051-1 provides requirements and test methods for the measurement of the dustiness of bulk materials to ensure risks are evaluated, controlled and minimized.
BS EN 15051-1 is the first part of a multi-part series that outlines the environmental conditions, the sample handling and analytical procedures and the method of calculating and presenting the results. Reasons are given for the need for more than one method and advice is given on the choice of method to be used.
BS EN 15051-1 establishes a classification scheme for dustiness to provide a standardised way to express and communicate the results to users of the bulk materials. BS EN 15051-1 applies to powdered, granular or pelletized bulk materials.
Note: BS EN 15051-1 does not apply for testing the dust released during mechanical reduction of solid bulk materials (e.g. cut, crushed) or to test application procedures for the bulk materials.
Who is BS EN 15051-1- Requirements for measuring the dustiness of bulk materials for?
BS EN 15051-1 on the requirements for measuring the dustiness of bulk materials is relevant to:
- Manufacturers
- Producers
- Occupational hygienists
- Workers
Why should you use BS EN 15051-1-Requirements for measuring the dustiness of bulk materials?
The control of dust emissions during the handling and transportation of bulk materials is an important
consideration in the design and operation of many industrial processes. Excessive airborne dust levels in workplaces are undesirable for several reasons like they can cause adverse health effects to the workers, their control can involve the use of costly ventilation and filtration systems, they can contaminate machinery and products and can be costly in terms of product losses.
It is therefore advantageous for occupational hygienists and process engineers to have relevant information about the propensity of bulk materials to produce airborne dust (the “dustiness” of the bulk material) so that risks can be evaluated, controlled and minimized.
BS EN 15051-1 provides you with test methods that classify the dustiness, in terms of health-related fractions, of solid bulk materials. This dustiness classification assists by providing the data on the potential for dust emissions when the bulk material is handled or processed in workplaces to improve the products.
BS EN 15051-1 also assists the users of the bulk materials to assess the effects of pre-treatments, and also to select less dusty products, if available.
With compliance and obedience to BS EN 15051-1, you can enhance the efficacy of your products to control and minimize risks from the dustiness of the bulk materials.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 15051-1:2013 together with BS EN 15051-2:2013 and BS EN 15051-3:2013 supersedes BS EN 15051:2006, which is withdrawn. The major technical changes compared to the previous edition are:
- EN 15051:2006 has been split into three parts
- The test methods given are no longer referred to as reference test methods
