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A Quick Look At Common Safety Mistakes Owners Make With Rotary Screw Air Compressors

by Ian Howard

If you are on the lookout for the best air compressor for your industrial setting, there is no doubt that the rotary screw air compressor is a top choice for the running. This air compressor is a powerhorse of compressed air and offers a range of advantages in an industrial setting. However, because these air compressors are a little more complex and have more moving parts than most, they can also be a little more dangerous to use. When you invest in your rotary screw air compressor, make sure you keep this handy list of safety mistakes on hand so you know to avoid them down the road. 

Mistake: Make sure your air compressor is kept in a well ventilated area. 

Why? The rotary screw air compressor can emit fumes when it is running, especially if it has been running for long enough for the temperature of the equipment to rise. It is not safe to inhale the fumes that can radiate from the air compressor. Therefore, you have to make sure that the air compressor is kept and situated in an area of your business that has ample air flow. 

Mistake: Make sure employees know the exterior of the air compressor can be hot to the touch. 

Why? If rotary screw air compressors have one downfall, it is the fact that the way these systems are designed means they tend to generate a lot more heat than many other air compressor types. This is because the constant rotation of the rotary heads creates friction and that friction radiates heat. Most rotary screw air compressors are equipped with a cooling system, but this cooling system is mainly designed to keep the temperature of the expressed air low enough that it does not damage air tools. The outside of the unit can still get hot to the touch. 

Mistake: Make sure any connected air tools are powered off before turning on the air compressor. 

Why? It can be incredibly dangerous to leave an air tool connected to a hose from the rotary compressor when it is no longer in use. When the machine is powered up again, if the power tool is left on, the force of the open air coming through the tool can be so great that it sets the tool itself into a profuse spin or even launches it from the ground if it is lightweight enough. Therefore, make it a general rule that not only every air tool be powered off before the air compressor is shut down, but also make sure it is removed from the hose as well. 

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