Protect workers from harmful exposure
Choosing safer alternatives for abrasive blasting is vital for worker safety. GMA Garnet™ is the safer choice in comparison to waste slag abrasives, offering minimal to no risk to workers on site.
Slag abrasives assessment reveals potential hazards
Slag abrasives are the byproduct of burning coal or producing metals and can pose a serious risk to human health. When blasted, toxic particles can be released into the air, exposing operators and bystanders to dangerous quantities of heavy metals, such as arsenic, barium, beryllium, and chromium, and other materials found in slag dust.
Alarmingly, an independent qualitative risk assessment of 17 commonly available abrasives found that some slags exceed safe regulatory limits for a number of heavy metals.
Garnet abrasives: the safer alternative
HSE consultants in the United States led an investigation into 21 different abrasives and their testing concluded that GMA Garnet™ is 2.5x safer than waste slag abrasives. To get the details on better abrasive safety and performance, read our Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Abrasive Products.
Switch from coal slag improves working conditions
ZÜBLIN Chimney and Refractory (ZCR) previously relied on coal slag for abrasive blasting projects across Europe and faced high dust emissions and impaired operator visibility. To improve working conditions, ZCR teamed up with GMA and Elcometer for a trial comparing GMA PremiumBlast™ with coal slag.
The trial showed a significant reduction in dust levels, improved visibility, and optimized abrasive consumption. A few months into using GMA PremiumBlast™, ZCR recorded a 75% reduction in abrasive consumption, creating a cleaner and safer workplace for their workers.
