TAPPI Tissue Division Announces Dust Mitigation Committee

Demands for softer, higher quality product, have led to more dust creation and accumulation in tissue mills. Buildup of dust particles in mills increases the risk of fires, explosion, may contribute to allergies and illness among workers, affects machine efficiency, affects converting efficiency and can lead to consumer complaints.

Consequently, requests for dust mitigation and control strategies have grown. Some tissue producers are now developing long term plans to mitigate dust on various machines within their organizations.

Insurance requirements are also becoming more stringent, forcing some tissue manufacturers to meet certain guidelines when it comes to their machines.

In response, TAPPI’s Tissue Division formed the Dust Mitigation Committee to support the industry in fulfilling these requirements and decrease buildup of dust in tissue mills.

In making the announcement, Tissue Division Co-Chair Bud Chase, Vice President - Tissue of EDT-Enzymatic Deinking Technologies, stated “Our Dust Mitigation Committee will be a common industry platform for learning and development of unified guidelines for dust mitigation in tissue mills. We are aiming to increase safe and clean operations, improve overall product quality while lowering health risks for workers and reducing dust related downtime on both tissue machines and converting lines.”

In order to accomplish their goal, the Dust Mitigation Committee needs personnel from the full production process. This includes pulp suppliers, refiner specialists, machine makers, chemical suppliers, blade manufacturers, dust control system vendors, air systems applications specialists, tissue manufacturing personnel, converting operations personnel and others.

You can join the committee by contacting the Tissue Division, Ashley Westbrook, via email at AWestbrook@tappi.org and request to join the Dust Mitigation Committee.

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