Comparison of local exhaust ventilation with other exposure controls used in electrolytic nickel plating

Workers in the surface treatment industry are potentially exposed to a range of carcinogens, asthmagens and skin sensitisers including nickel (Ni) compounds. Exposure occurs by inhalation, absorption through the skin, by ingestion or any combination of these three routes. Emissions from nickel electroplating tanks occur when the solution is agitated, which is essential to ensure the plating quality is acceptable. This is usually achieved by bubbling air through the plating solution. There are a range of measures that can be used to reduce airborne emissions from electroplating tanks. This paper describes a series of laboratory tests to evaluate the effect of different control measures on the emissions generated from an electrolytic nickel plating tank. The findings showed that LEV and eductors offer the biggest reductions in emission rate with both being similarly effective. Release of aerosol from the tank decreased as LEV flow rate increased. With the highest air agitation rate, and the LEV set to the manufacturer’s recommended flow rate, emissions were reduced by more than 98% irrespective of the freeboard height.