Abrasive Blasting Safety: Inspect, Protect, and Contain Training Course

Abrasive blasting is a high-risk operation that uses pressurized abrasive materials such as coal slag, garnet, copper slag, and steel grit. The main hazards are airborne toxic dust, high-pressure equipment, noise, static electricity, and uncontrolled blasting media.

Workers can be exposed to respirable crystalline silica, lead, and hexavalent chromium, which can cause serious lung disease, cancer, or contamination through ingestion. Proper hygiene, wash stations, and restrictions on eating in contaminated areas are essential.

Before blasting, workers must inspect the blast pot, hoses, couplings, whip checks, and deadman control. The deadman control must never be bypassed because a dropped pressurized nozzle can whip violently and cause severe injuries.

Blasters require specialized PPE, particularly a NIOSH-approved Type CE supplied-air respirator, along with appropriate hearing protection. Equipment should also be bonded and grounded to control static electricity.

Finally, blasting areas must be isolated using enclosures, ventilation, restricted zones, and warning signs. Operators must maintain control of the nozzle, manage kickback and heat stress, and immediately stop blasting if an unprotected person enters the restricted area.

This program is available with Spanish and French closed captions.