Every two years, a solution for handling dangerous substances in an exemplary way is honoured with the Hazardous Substance award in Germany. This year, Mirka Abrasives Germany GmbH won the award for substituting Naphthalene with fumaric acid, meaning replacing a cancer-causing and toxic substance by a substance that is neither carcinogenic nor acute toxic.
Mirka produces abrasive tools for machining mainly metallic parts. The abrasive tools need pores that are introduced during the final burning step. This used to be achieved by the addition of solid Naphthalene that sublimates at room temperature and reduced the burning process to 80°C. Beside this advantage, using Naphthalene needed sophisticated ventilation and use of personal protection equipment because the substance is suspected to cause cancer and harmful if swallowed. The alternative fumaric acid is neither carcinogenic nor acute toxic and from a hazard point of view a preferred alternative. It needs a higher temperature around 200°C to evaporate, but reduces the need for further risk reduction measures. This is in line with the hierarchy of control and was therefore awarded.
Look here for the image video that summarises the company’s ‘substitution story’:
© Wirsig
Equal share for employees
As the application for the award was suggested by an employee, Mirka decided to give every employee and equal share of the 10.000 Euros that come with the award. We hope this is an inspiring story to share.
Ventilated work stations instead of personal protection
This year beside the winner, Amplifon Deutschland received a commendation for their technical solution during the final step of shaping earmolds for hearing aids in their training academy. The final step for individual hearing aids is milling the piece – which is associated with dust and noise as well as risk for the eyes due to pieces flying. This was solved with personal protection equipment in the past, but is not necessary anymore due the new ventilated work stations. The final footage can be found here:
© Wirsig
Please be inspired by these solutions as they may also be helpful for other dangerous substances! Or the solution found can be transferred to similar work places.
