Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00412:body:0:p26
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00412
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 70790–73649

regularly checking that plant and equipment are being cleaned and maintained including ventilation and spray equipment and filters, and
    * proper induction training and general training of workers.

4.3 Electrical safety
Powder coating processes brings with it electrical hazards and additional requirements for safe work practices are required. Electrostatic spray-guns have electrically charged nozzles which transfer the electric charge to droplets of paint which are then attracted to the edges and back
of the work piece, an effect known as the 'wrap-around effect'. In some automatic painting processes the objects to be painted are charged. Direct current sources are used and hand guns may be designed with safe nozzles carrying a very low current at high voltage. Automatic guns carry much higher currents which are potentially lethal.
All equipment including spray guns and booths should be earthed. All hooks used to suspend objects to be sprayed should be cleaned prior to re-use in order to maintain effective metal contact. Earthing of equipment, objects being coated and personnel ensures maximum coating efficiency, reduces free dust and prevents build-up of static charges capable of causing ignition.
In an electrostatic spraying system, atomised droplets are charged to a high voltage (at least
60 kilovolt) so that they are attracted to an earthed work piece. Although this process reduces the risk of overspray and ricochet, there is a risk of electric spark ignition both at the spray gun nozzle and at the wetted surface of the work piece.
All equipment and metal surfaces within three metres of the charged head of the spray gun should be earthed. This includes:
    * the floor of the exclusion zone – this should be of a material that is electrically conducting
      to the earthing of the spray gun (clean any overspray from the floor to avoid build-up of an insulating layer)
    * the metal housing and handle of the gun or the metal areas on the handle of the gun and any metallic screen of the high voltage cable, and
    * regularly clean earthing hooks to avoid build-up of an insulating layer.
People in the exclusion zone who could receive a charge while working should not wear metal articles including metal watches, non-conductive materials including silk or synthetic fibres that
can generate and accumulate static electricity unless regularly treated with an antistatic solution. Workers should also be provided with insulating gloves. Clothing including socks, should not be made from silk or synthetic fibres unless treated with an anti-static solution. Cotton clothing is preferable as it is less prone to generating static electricity.
The use of anti-static or conductive footwear is recommended for powder coating activities.
It is recommended that anti-static footwear should have a resistance of:
    * not