Coal Dust

Still waiting on my coal /wood indoor boiler to come in. Do you have much dust with the bagged coal? Do you recommend wearing a dust mask or something better when using coal and the ash from the ash pan?
I have read where the coal ash isn't the best thing to get into your lungs.

Thanks.

Careful handling of ashes is a must. It is mostly common sense. As for the fuel side, I mist mine with Peanut oil using a Wagner Power painter before going into my outdoor hopper.. Our house stays very clean.

I think a dust mask is a good choice.

Congratulations on your new purchase.

You always want to wear a dust mask when scooping coal or
dumping it with a coal scuttle. you wanto avoid getting black lung disease
from the coal dust.

You will want to wear gloves as the coal dust will stick to you like glue
if it is not oiled coal.

When you empty the ash pit you want to have the loading door open to
aid in creating suction through the grates whiel cleaning the ash pit.

when you open the bags do it near the top to make sure you can easily
shovel the ashes into it with out it trying to fall over while you hold the bag open.
The small ash scoops with the long handles work well.

Save the plastic bags and use them for the ashes(be sure that that there are
cold ashes from along burn with a deep ash pile(unless you have an
ash basket that you can change out with a spare to let that one cool for
a couple of days.

You will want to wear a winter hat to also keep the dust out of your hair too.

The 3M model 93 masks are the best for nuisance dust. You can buy them
from Gemplers or a good hardware store by the box and they last along time.

lzaharis wrote:Congratulations on your new purchase.

You always want to wear a dust mask when scooping coal or
dumping it with a coal scuttle. you wanto avoid getting black lung disease
from the coal dust.

You will want to wear gloves as the coal dust will stick to you like glue
if it is not oiled coal.

When you empty the ash pit you want to have the loading door open to
aid in creating suction through the grates whiel cleaning the ash pit.

when you open the bags do it near the top to make sure you can easily
shovel the ashes into it with out it trying to fall over while you hold the bag open.
The small ash scoops with the long handles work well.

Save the plastic bags and use them for the ashes(be sure that that there are
cold ashes from along burn with a deep ash pile(unless you have an
ash basket that you can change out with a spare to let that one cool for
a couple of days.

You will want to wear a winter hat to also keep the dust out of your hair too.

The 3M model 93 masks are the best for nuisance dust. You can buy them
from Gemplers or a good hardware store by the box and they last along time.

Black lung was found in some people who spent 12 or more hrs a day in a underground mine 7 days a week for most of their life. Are people really afraid of getting BL by filling a hopper 4 or 5 times a week? Oh my the liberal brainwashing is a having an effect. Not saying if a respirator makes someone feel better, then by all means wear one. But saying there is a chance of getting black lung by maintaining a residential coal stove and not wearing one seems a little far fetched.

Looks like your not sure either. Why take the chance? That's like saying tanning beds and sun doesn't cause skin cancer. Buying the mask won't break the bank on this end. Still waiting on the D S 1100 to come in.

It may be that a coal burning appliance is not something you want in your home if your that afraid of handling coal and ash. Why do Asians wear dust masks in public?

Flyer5 wrote:

lzaharis wrote:Congratulations on your new purchase.

You always want to wear a dust mask when scooping coal or
dumping it with a coal scuttle. you wanto avoid getting black lung disease
from the coal dust.

You will want to wear gloves as the coal dust will stick to you like glue
if it is not oiled coal.

When you empty the ash pit you want to have the loading door open to
aid in creating suction through the grates whiel cleaning the ash pit.

when you open the bags do it near the top to make sure you can easily
shovel the ashes into it with out it trying to fall over while you hold the bag open.
The small ash scoops with the long handles work well.

Save the plastic bags and use them for the ashes(be sure that that there are
cold ashes from along burn with a deep ash pile(unless you have an
ash basket that you can change out with a spare to let that one cool for
a couple of days.

You will want to wear a winter hat to also keep the dust out of your hair too.

The 3M model 93 masks are the best for nuisance dust. You can buy them
from Gemplers or a good hardware store by the box and they last along time.

=======================================================================================================================================

Black lung was found in some people who spent 12 or more hrs a day in a underground mine 7 days a week for most of their life. Are people really afraid of getting BL by filling a hopper 4 or 5 times a week? Oh my the liberal brainwashing is a having an effect. Not saying if a respirator makes someone feel better, then by all means wear one. But saying there is a chance of getting black lung by maintaining a residential coal stove and not wearing one seems a little far fetched.

=======================================================================================================================================
It is not far fetched my friend, I know of cases where a college student changed
brakes all summer in a repair shop and he died from asbestos poisoning.

I spent almost 22 years underground in hard rock mining, I can and will tell you a good dust mask
is your first defense in preventing any kind of lung damage.

Few people realize it or know it but working in hard rock mining or coal mining underground increases ones
exposure to radon poisoning.

I also quit smoking 25 years ago.

Prevention is the key here and as long as he is prudent in taking care of the ash and avoiding the exposure
to coal dust he will be fine.

I hope that is satisfactory.

lzaharis wrote:It is not far fetched my friend, I know of cases where a college student changed
brakes all summer in a repair shop and he died from asbestos poisoning.

Trying to compare asbestos to coal ash or coal dust is far fatched. As for dust from bagged coal I have only seen it once and that was with some 30 year old bagged coal. Every bag I have used since then has had ZERO dust. Now perhaps others have had a different experience.. Use some GOD GIVEN COMMON SENSE when dealing with coal ash and you will not have any problems.

bcdex wrote:Looks like your not sure either. Why take the chance? That's like saying tanning beds and sun doesn't cause skin cancer. Buying the mask won't break the bank on this end. Still waiting on the D S 1100 to come in.

I like to make decisions based on FACTS not based on an unsubstantiated post on a forum.

PPE is always the last line of defense against hazards, not the first or only.

If a danger is actually there then I would recommend engineering solutions (ventilation etc) first be in place.

So proper protection can be costly; it would nice to see if any DATA supports the claim that a regular homeowner is at risk. But I doubt that there is any as our wonderful legal system would have made this an issue within the public's gaze long ago.

I don't think it was mentioned, also shut off any fans including ceiling fans before putting coal in, and more importantly when removing the ash and carrying it outside. That helps stop a lot of ash movement.

If you carefully put the coal into the stove you wont get much if any dust. My bagged coal sometimes has some dust, sometimes not. I put it into pails outside, mostly because I add coal 20 pounds at a time. A lot of people just put it in straight from the bag.

If you feel safer using a mask, go for it. You may stir up just as much dust farting into a dusty couch as you will with a stove, but it depends on the stove and the handler.

Flyer5 wrote:Black lung was found in some people who spent 12 or more hrs a day in a underground mine 7 days a week for most of their life. Are people really afraid of getting BL by filling a hopper 4 or 5 times a week? Oh my the liberal brainwashing is a having an effect.

I told a buddy of mine about coal. His first question was concern about Black Lung disease..

Unless you wear a respirator 24/7, you are exposed to dust, pollen, mold spores, animal dander, smoke particulate (smog) ect.. the list goes on. Coal dust at the level a residential user might get isn't much different.

DO you wear a dust mask when doing the occasional drywall job?

The only time I might see the use of a dust mask is when my coal guy is pouring 6 tons into my basement which takes 15 minutes. It does stir up a lot of coal dust and I do blow black stuff out of my nose afterwards since I have to be amongst it to push it to the far corners of my bin as it's poured in.

Lightning wrote: (snip) I do blow black stuff out of my nose afterwards since I have to be amongst it to push it to the far corners of my bin as it's poured in.

Maybe your brain matter coming out? LOL

Really, maybe look into some ventilation for use during this necessary procedure?

Orrrr, just be realistic & get a pack of disposable masks--1 should last you a season. AND, it will quell your concerns:) I get real minimal dust inside & my stove is in my living area--my bins are outside, so no problem there.

Wish I could find coal in heavy 40 lb. brown paper bags. I would put bag and coal in and never open the bag. Don't think I should do it with the plastic bags.