The world of maintenance, overhaul and repair has relied on chlorinated and halogenated hydrocarbons, Stoddard solutions, mineral spirits and petroleum based distillates as cleaners and degreasers as a recognized standard cleaning method for as long as most of us can remember. This group of products is associated for their through cleaning, rapid drying performance. However, a number of commonly used solvents are ozone depleting substances. The application of many of these solvents have become strictly regulated as to the amount that can be used within industry while others which are still in use are scheduled for phase-out in just a few years. A large majority of common solvents contribute to the creation of low level ozone, a component of smog produced when the volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the solvents evaporate into the atmosphere.

Many of these regularly daily used solvents are highly toxic to humans, wildlife, aquatic plants and fish. The opportunity for long term chronic or acute effects is well documented, with some recycled solvents having known carcinogens at various volume levels noted on the warning labels. The risk to employee’s can go unnoticed in the short term as workers are regularly in close contact with solvents for extended periods of time. Without proper training, supervision, personal protection equipment or ventilation, airborne concentrations of solvent vapour can easily reach dangerous levels, not just for workers, but for others in close proximity or throughout the same facility. The elevated risk of fire with combustible solvents is ever present when strong oxidizers or oxidizing agents are accidentally mixed which can be ignited by a heat energy originating from a weak ignition source such as friction, physical impact or static electricity.

Valuable time spent searching for alternatives should have you step back and ask the questions:

“Why am I using harmful cleaning solvents or degreasers in the first place?”

“What options your company can take to eliminate or, at least, reduce the use of these harmful substances?”

Corrective action to eliminate using solvents or degreasers is always the safest, most environmentally sound option.

SEE JAY LENO’S TAKE ON THE BIOCIRCLE
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=190181

Don’t get me wrong - this sounds quite cool, from a technological aspect. Who wouldn’t want their own oil-eating bacteria?

Of course, it’d be my luck that they’d mutate into oil monsters in my shop, and the next time I go out to work on something, I become food.