Bunsen Burner Gauze Mat
Health and safety executive united kingdom background tremolite asbestos has been identified in the ceramic centre of some bunsen burner gauze mats in new zealand and the united kingdom.
Bunsen burner gauze mat. These mats typically have a ceramic disk in the centre and are often used with bunsen burners. The heads of workplace safety authorities has been made aware of concerns that asbestos containing material may be present in some bunsen burner gauze mats commonly used in laboratories. The mat protects the bench from the heat of the bunsen burner not shown. Government writes urgent letter to all secondary schools and colleges advising them to remove and dispose of.
These gauze mats typically have a ceramic disk in the centre and are often used with bunsen burners. The occupational health and safety regulations 2017 prohibit a range of activities including the supply sale and use of asbestos. Item sh 850152 wire gauze mat bunsen burner circa 1910 summary. They are all metal are outside the scope of this alert.
Advice to users of bunsen burner wire gauzes that may contain asbestos. Preliminary testing has indicated that some gauze mats may have been imported into australia. Bunsen burner tripod stand and gauze on a heat resistant mat in a laboratory. Circa 1848 1950.
The material on the gauzes is used for its heat resistant properties. Example of a gauze laboratory mat. This safety alert is to warn of asbestos in bunsen burner gauze mats with ceramic pads that have been imported into australia gauze mats without a ceramic centre i e. Used to heat chemicals.
The gauze provides support for what is being heated and also helps to spread the heat evenly. It is most likely to be made of thick metal threads threaded into a mat or square. The health and safety executive hse has become aware of two suppliers of scientific equipment that have supplied mesh gauzes with asbestos containing centres. The department for education dfe has written to all secondary schools and colleges in the uk ordering them to remove bunsen burner gauze mats as they are believed to contain dangerous asbestos.
Gauze mats which do not have a ceramic centre are of no risk for asbestos. The gauze is used with a bunsen burner tripod and is placed over the gas flame. A gauze mat is used below bunsen burners as it protects the tripod or surface which the bunsen burner might be on. Used in the pharmacy of a psychiatric hospital in victoria 1880 1950.