What Are the Dangers of Commercial Laminating Machines & Poor Ventilation?

• Commercial laminating machines operated in poorly ventilated buildings present great health risks. This endangers the health of their users and of persons in the surrounding environment. Chemical emissions from the laminating machines may cause severe health risks to workers and anyone else within the surrounding areas. The dangers may be aggravated if there are public utilities such as schools in the neighborhood.

Occupational Diseases

• Commercial laminating machines, especially in poorly ventilated premises, may be a source of occupational diseases to their operators. According to a work health report published by Mom.gov in 2004, diseases such as occupational asthma may arise because of chemical emissions as well as poor ventilation from these premises.

Respiratory Complications

• Commercial laminating machines under poorly ventilated premises may pose serious respiratory complications to workers and operators. These respiratory complications may include Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), respiratory trauma and incessant coughs. As noted in the health report published by Mom.gov, these respiratory complications pose a serious health risk and are an expensive undertaking to combat.

Chemical Poisoning

• Poorly ventilated premises housing commercial laminating machines may lead to cases of chemical poisoning. This is caused by chemical emissions from the laminating apparatus. The most common chemical toxins include methyl chloride and toluene. Excessive absorption of these chemicals may trigger other diseases such as lung cancer.

Confined Space and Gassing Incidents

• Poor ventilation in commercial laminating machine buildings may trigger compressed air illness or barotraumas, and heat rashes. In acute cases, industrial dermatitis may arise. This may be as a result of lack of proper protective gear for the operators as well as poor ventilation of the plant housing the commercial laminating machines.

Dangers to Surrounding Environment

• Anyone within surrounding areas also may be affected by the effects of poorly ventilated commercial laminating plants. According to a study carried out by Vermont Public Interest Group on Toxins in Schools, chemical emissions, such as methyl chloride and toluene, from a commercial laminating plant is a serious health hazard. As the study reveals, the effects of chemical poisoning from these emissions is far more dangerous to children than to adults. The effects of chemical emissions from poorly ventilated commercial laminating plants may result in spread of toxin-related infections. These are as a result of toluene, methyl chloride and benzene released from such plants.