Sandblasting involves complex equipment, safety gear, and demanding processes that require physical strength, stamina, and close attention to detail. Is Sandblasting a Hard Job? The sandblasting job is truly challenging work. Let’s look at what makes it such a grueling occupation.
Physically Demanding
Sandblasting is tough on the body. Just moving around in all the required protective equipment can wear you out quickly. The heavy canvas jumpsuit, thick gloves, respirator, earplugs, hood with blast helmet – it adds up to a bulky, cumbersome outfit. In summer, staying cool is nearly impossible. The weights and hood limit mobility and flexibility.
Adding to the load, sandblasters must regularly lift 50-100 lb bags of media to pour into the blasting pots. The nonstop blasting motion itself strains muscles, especially in the shoulders, arms and hands. Proper stance and technique are essential to avoid back issues. It’s easy to get fatigued spending all day blasting away rust and coatings. The vibration and muscle exertion take a toll over time.
Hazardous Work Conditions
Far from an office job, blasting exposes workers to numerous hazards requiring constant vigilance. The choking dust mandates wearing a respirator to avoid lung damage. Tiny abrasive particles inevitably work into every crack and crevice. Hearing protection is vital given the deafening noise inside the blasting helmet.
Limited visibility through the helmet visor demands careful attention to footing and obstacles when maneuvering around the blasting area. There’s always the risk of hose snags and slips on slick surfaces. Stray abrasive easily damages unprotected skin. It’s a demanding working environment, both physically and mentally.
Safety Gear Challenges
The essential protective gear poses its own challenges. The heavy blast helmet and suit limit mobility and drain energy. Dense earplugs make communication difficult. The respirator can feel suffocating and interferes with breathing. Visibility through the helmet lens is restricted. Moving and working in the gear is taxing.
Putting it on and taking it off properly is time consuming. Sealing all the openings takes effort to prevent abrasive infiltration. Once the hood gets sweat-soaked, the rest of the day remains miserably humid. Proper cleaning and maintenance of the safety equipment is also crucial yet tedious. The indispensable protection takes a toll.
Set Up and Break Down
Beyond blasting itself, sandblasters spend considerable time rigging up and breaking down work areas. Hoses must be neatly coiled, pots depressurized and cleaned, media recovered and emptied from the reclaimer. Surfaces are swept and vacuumed. Hoppers are filled and nozzles changed. At day’s end, everything gets dismantled and stowed away.
This auxiliary work contributes significant physical labor atop the blasting itself. The set up and cleanup cannot be rushed or done haphazardly either. Meticulous attention ensures safety and proper equipment functioning. It’s unglamorous but essential work.
Conclusion
While sandblasting pushes the body and mind, there’s immense satisfaction in learning the trade and seeing the tangible results of making grimy surfaces look fresh and new again. It takes diligence and determination, but the sense of a job well done makes the grueling days worthwhile.
Taking proper safety precautions and using correct technique prevents long term health issues and injuries. Appropriate training ensures abrasive blasting remains a viable, if demanding, career path for those willing to put in the work and mastery required.
