Going Bust Over Degreasing Solvents: How Did Clean Get So Ugly?

ByTimothy Byron

Successful manufacturing business owners adopt incredibly resourceful ways of dealing with daily, predictable stress. So much, in fact, it is commonly viewed as "part of the job." In a position with endless decisions to be made, degreasing solvents being used in the facility hardly seem worthy of a second thought. Owners realize that grease, oil, and dirt on equipment will need to be cleaned regularly. They contact solvents suppliers, find a product for a competitive price, and no longer have to worry about a mess, right?

Wrong. A majority of grease removal products are made with highly toxic chemicals, and threaten the health of employees. Business owners who utilize chemical degreasers in any part of operation or maintenance procedure are strongly advised to take a look at the facts, and consider the financial devastation caused by an unsafe working environment.

How Employees Are Affected

Degreasing solventsare made of industrial-strength chemical compounds that emit Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). Trichloroethylene (TCE) is one of the most common toxic chemicals used in degreasers. The health risks of TCE exposure are so pronounced that its use must be regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Considered a maintenance cleaning product for regular and continual use to promote sanitized work environments, employees are constantly at risk of inhalation exposure. TCE in the workplace is responsible for causing minor symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and poor coordination. The more severe and chronic health symptoms of employee exposure include damage to vital heart, liver, and kidney organs of the body, as well as the central nervous system, and even death. Employees usually trust that business owners would not intentionally put their lives in danger, and certainly not on a daily basis by way of removing grease build-up.

How Exposed Employees Function

Employees exposed to HAPs do not always recognize they have been poisoned just by breathing at work, often mistaking the minor symptoms of headache or dizziness as just feeling slightly under the weather, and not significant enough to punch their time card out for the day. At the very least, an employee's level and speed of doing their job, contributing to the productivity of the company is disabled. Failure of heavy industrial machinery is the least of concerns when a worker attempts to operate with impaired judgment, slowed reaction time, and lack of basic hand-eye coordination. Completely preventable instances like this can easily multiply the number of people hurt in a shop, assembly plant, or warehouse whether the individual victims were personally exposed to chemical degreasing solvents or not.

Industrial business owners spend an enormous amount of money to have manufacturing equipment repaired, maintained, and serviced to guarantee desired productivity and profit. Justifying these costs by viewing the machinery as a vital lifeline for creating goods which will ultimately bring profit dollars is a standard and widely used practice. Factoring the crucial expenses your company needs to operate, and knowing your minimum overhead costs is common business sense. The well-being of employees is essential for the lifeline. As the majority of operators and laborers within a production facility, their safety cannot be left out of the overhead.

The Bottom Line

Lack of responsible ownership and hazardous working environments rob companies of potential productive earnings, while enhancing the likelihood of a wrongful employee injury or death liability lawsuit that can easily result in financial devastation. Fortunately, toxic chemical solvents suppliers are only one of two varieties. Reputable companies producing degreasing solvents organically are available to assist business owners with the exact same equipment methods, application, and desired removal strength to continue desirable and safer working conditions for all.

Health hazards of chemical degreasing solvents are explained for business owners, to demonstrate how choosing solvents suppliers that expose employees to dangerous conditions will hurt overall business profit.

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What Manufacturers Should Consider Before Purchasing Degreasing Solvents

ByTimothy Byron

Getting rid of grease, carbon deposits, coal, dust, water-based paints, and fuel oil is no sweat with high quality aqueous degreasing solvents. Any dirty surface or grimy piece of equipment can be cleaned easily with an aqueous solvent, provided it is not a material that would be damaged by normal water contact. Manufacturing facilities frequently use these cleaners for tanks, power washing, and various mechanical applications. There are two types of solvent cleaners available, featuring some differences that may not seem important to manufacturers until they take a closer look. Although each is used to clean the same tough areas manufacturing plants always struggle with, some citrus industrial degreasing products are highly flammable, even as an aqueous solution. Facilities with expensive machinery, large stock inventories, and valuable employees simply cannot risk losing everything over choosing the wrong cleaner. Organic and biodegradable formulas are the preferred choice of many manufacturers, for very simple reasons:

Organic solutions are non-flammable. Sometimes all it takes is a slight accident, short lapse in judgment, or basic human error to bring a multi-faceted operation to a screeching halt. Employees are not perfect. That is why OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) provides specific guidelines to determine what a hazardous workplace environment entails, in order to protect everyone in a manufacturing facility. These rules not only benefit employees, they ease the minds of business owners who cannot even imagine what it would be like to lose productivity in the event of a fire or even worse, losing the life of a hard-working employee over something so easily preventable.
Biodegradable cleaners deteriorate naturally after they are used. Using a biodegradable industrial degreasing product is safer for the environment, as well as more convenient for manufacturers. The common challenges associated with proper disposal of toxic compounds takes time and effort away from daily manufacturing operations. Chemicals that require strict conditions just to throw them away will not only reduce productivity, they directly impact annual business profits. Many toxic compounds actually cost money to throw them away, due to the need to hire a waste management company for careful handling and processing.
Degreasing solvents that are non-corrosive help to avoid losing products and equipment when they simply need to be cleaned. Part of having a routine sanitation policy in place is not only to maintain a safe manufacturing facility for employees, but to extend the life of expensive materials that are used on a daily basis. In addition to metal, rubber and plastic components often play an integral role in factory operations. Toxic cleaning chemicals cause rubber and plastic applications to deteriorate after long periods of exposure, or sometimes instantly eat away at them depending on the strength of the agent being used. To protect your overhead budget, and avoid having to replace equipment more frequently, try an industrial degreasing solution that is designed for heavy-duty cleaning on multiple surfaces.

Understanding your options between degreasing solvents is an essential part of making decisions that will benefit your entire manufacturing facility. Choosing organic, biodegradable, and non-corrosive industrial degreasing formulas protects the environment by reducing the amount of toxins that are released into the air. As if that weren't enough, organic degreasing solvents also lead to safer workplaces for employees, higher levels of quality control, and more effective cost solutions for manufacturers.

Degreasing solvents used throughout the manufacturing industry are compared to organic industrial degreasing products, for business owners to determine which is more beneficial.

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Selecting High Performance Metal and Electrical Degreasing Solvents

ByTimothy Byron

Degreasing solvents are used to clean surfaces, parts, and equipment within all industries. Due to the higher probability of grease buildup on heavy-duty machinery, the products most relied on are used for metal and electrical applications.

Metal Cleaning

Proper metal cleaning is a crucial part of successful manufacturing. Metal equipment and components are often relied on even more than employees, working non stop throughout the day in a factory. While grease and residue buildup is to be expected, powerful degreasing solvents made to adequately handle the job are not easy to come by. Although high performance cleaners are always made up of chemicals, the specific type of chemicals can vary drastically, and determine the outcome of your sanitation routine. Chlorinated formulas contain a hazardous chemical called Trichloroethane, or TCA. TCA is extremely dangerous to employees in the event they are exposed by inhalation, digestion, or skin contact.

Acting as a central nervous system depressant, TCA induces minor side effects that are similar to alcohol intoxication, as well as more severe symptoms leading to life-threatening conditions. In the best case scenario, an employee operating heavy duty machinery and equipment that is not fully coordinated and aware of their surroundings puts others at risks, and costs companies millions of dollars in damages. You probably wouldn't serve liquor to your workers, so it may be a good idea to find degreasing solvents that are non-toxic and won't impair anyone's judgment. Alternative degreasers that are just as effective in removing heavy-duty buildup are available. N-propyl bromide is a chemical used to replace the hazards of TCA, without compromising performance. When properly stabilized, n-propyl bromide formulas are also compatible with aluminum, brass, titanium, and magnesium, broadening the areas that TCA cannot be safely applied to.

Electrical Cleaning

Electrical equipment is vital for daily operations, making dielectric cleaners a regular product within manufacturing facilities. Due to their level of toxicity when exposed to an employee's skin, dielectric cleaners containing chlorinated chemicals must be used with extreme caution. Protective equipment has to be worn every time the product is used, adding to overhead costs for organizations, increased risk of human error among employees, and an overall loss of productivity to simply sanitize electrical devices. An easier and safer solution is available. Environmentally preferred electrical degreasing solvents contain no chemicals that would prevent employees from using them safely. In addition to eliminating the need for protective gear, preferred dielectric sprays can be used on most plastic and rubber surfaces. Experienced and chemically advanced industrial solvents manufacturers have developed formulas containing high-grade oil distillates, proven strong enough to remove grease, fuel, oil, and carbon wastes from electrical equipment, without threatening employees.

Superior Products

The manufacturing industry is hard-working, powerful, and progressive. Choosing industrial solvents manufacturers with the same level of commitment is the key to finding better quality products for your facility. Look for companies that specifically address the environmental, health, and safety hazards of chlorinated degreasing solvents to provide alternatives that are just as capable of your manufacturing level needs.

Distinct differences between degreasing solvents are explained for buyers to choose between traditional and chemically advanced industrial solvents manufacturers.

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Degreasing Cleaner: Why Should a Business Switch to Lower Toxicity Products?

ByTimothy Byron

Degreasing is a vital process in most industries because it allows workers to remove unwanted particles from product parts or machinery. A strong cleaner is needed to eliminate stains or buildup on items used in various manufacturing facilities or automotive processes. Industrial strength cleaners are also found in restaurants, dry cleaning businesses, and in any setting where paint or varnish films must be removed. They are a versatile product businesses rely on to handle heavy duty cleaning.

A degreasing cleaner is a solution that can eradicate oil, dirt, grease, or other impurities from the surface of an item. Unique properties allow the product to accomplish removal quite easily. Degreasers intended for industrial use are specifically designed for oil or grease. They assist in cleaning part creation equipment or the manufactured parts themselves. Ordinary cleaners do not have the chemical properties or strength to accomplish this industry task.

Industrial Solvents: Benefits of Switching to Organic Solutions

The use of industrial solvents until recent years has resulted in the release of harmful compounds. Organic products are being manufactured to meet increased concern for the environment, public health, and worker safety. After years of use, many businesses have recognized the reverse effects of using more toxic chemicals for this purpose. Common agents cause additional corrosion and markings on the metal. The resulting damage made these chemicals less cost effective. Health problems appeared, resulting from workers being in direct contact with the chemicals and their released vapor compounds.

Repairs caused delays in productivity, thus leading to financial losses. Compound releases harm the atmosphere and must be handled correctly to prevent health conditions. The enclosed environment requires certain factors for use. Inappropriate temperatures, bad ventilation, or other factors increased the risk of implementing these agents. Multiple complications left many businesses desiring better ways to perform cleaning. Manufacturers are moving toward organic agents as a way to meet their consumer demands. These alternatives are safer to use and are eco-friendly.

The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA has also boosted the demand for less harmful industrial solvents. Initiatives, such as "Going Green," have put businesses in the spotlight for more environmentally conscious practices. The EPA has set forth many regulations in an attempt to reduce the environmental harm posed by these substances. The regulations prohibit or restrict use of certain hazardous chemicals. Most new chemicals being offered today are nontoxic or have minimal toxicity levels. A large majority are also biodegradable and not as flammable.

As companies switch to safer products, they often experience rewarding cost savings. Organic based cleaners do not harm metal, leading to a reduction in part repairs and replacements. High flash-points in organic solvents decrease flammability, and allergic reactions and health problems are eliminated when implemented. Reduction of skin irritations or other conditions leads to lower insurance costs. Facilities using organic substitutes can save money and are able to provide a safer working environment without experiencing less effective cleaning. Any company not receiving these benefits should evaluate their current degreasing cleaner to determine if a better option is available.

Industrial solvents are made available for safer chemical cleaning processes. A low toxicity degreasing cleaner provides significant cost savings along with many safety benefits.

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