It’s time to combat the risks of hazardous construction dust

Construction dust isn’t just a nuisance or an annoying byproduct of the job. Construction dust is dangerous and hazardous and can pose a real risk to your health.

 

Breaches in dust control are the biggest health hazard on construction sites and made up 41% of ‘Occupational Health’ infringements recorded on building sites following 16,000 inspections (between late 2020 and late 2021). A ‘Dust Kills’ campaign launched in October 2021 will reveal further figures in the future.

 

But construction sites can not rely on the threat of inspections to make changes. Every construction site should have measures in place that help workers understand and combat the life-changing risks of hazardous construction dust.

 

How dangerous is construction site dust?

 

Dust particles from construction site tasks can create lots of health and lung problems for construction workers. Construction site dust can also cause concern for people living near construction sites.

 

There are lots of different types of dust, but most types come with a risk of lung disease, cancer, asthma, asbestos-related diseases and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

 

The HSE estimates that approximately 4,000 people die every year from occupational COPD. HSE research has also estimated that silica dust may be responsible for over 500 deaths of construction workers annually.

 

By the time a worker realises their breathing has changed or they have been exposed to construction dust through negligence, it could be too late. The damage caused by exposure will already be done.

 

What are the types of construction site dust?

 

Construction dust is a general term that covers all dust found on construction sites. However, there are three main types:

 

Silica dust

 

Silica is a substance found in certain types of stone, rock, sand and clay. Silica is also a major component of construction materials such as bricks, tiles, concrete and mortar. These materials create very fine dust during common construction work that can be easily inhaled.

 

The fine dust is known as respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and is very hard to see. On top of cancer, silica dust can also cause COPD and Silicosis. Sufferers of Silicosis experience severe shortness of breath and may find it difficult or impossible to walk even short distances.

 

Non-silica dust

 

Dust particles that don’t contain silica have a lower toxicity level but can still cause many health issues. The most common materials with low levels or no silica include gypsum, cement, limestone, marble and dolomite. However, silica can still become mixed in during construction site tasks. 

 

Wood dust

 

Cutting and sanding wood with power tools can produce significant levels of dust. Wood is widely used in construction in two main forms: hardwood and softwood. Exposure to excessive amounts of wood dust may irritate the eyes, nose and throat and cause serious non-reversible health problems.


 

What tasks create construction dust?

 

Lots of common construction jobs create a lot of dust. Tasks that cause a lot of hazardous dust can be attributed to one or more of the following:

 

Equipment – using high-energy tools, e.g. cut-off saws, grinders, wall chasers and grit blasters — lots of dust in a very short time

 

Work method – dry sweeping creates lots of dust when compared to vacuuming or wet brushing

 

Work area – enclosed spaces cause problematic build-up

 

Time – more time spent on a task equals more dust

 

High dust level tasks include:

• Cutting

• Grinding

• Drilling

• Surface preparation

• Sanding

• Dry Sweeping

 

How is construction dust controlled? 

 

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) covers activities that may expose workers to construction dust.

 

There are three key things you need to do:

• Assess (the risks)

• Control (the risks)

• Review (the controls)
   

Before employees begin a task, the process and equipment should always be reviewed to limit the amount of dust created. Considerations can include:

 

• Using the right size of building materials (less cutting and prep)

• Use less powerful tools 

• Try a different method of work
   

Even if you can stop some dust by changing the way work tasks are carried out, dust can still enter the air. The correct PPE and RPE should always be used to protect the user against inhalation risks in conjunction with dust prevention measures and assessments, but what can be done to prevent dust from becoming airborne?

 

Water – water damps down dust clouds, but it must be applied frequently and in the correct place to work effectively

 

Vacuum extraction – industrial vacuum units (such as those supplied by V-TUF) and accessories can suck away the dust as it is being created and contained securely

 

Dust extraction equipment from V-TUF

 

V-TUF STACKVAC HSV 110 V 30 L

 

The V-TUF StackVac is one of the most popular choices for synchronised dust extraction with power tools. The V-TUF M-Class StackVac HSV 110 V is lightweight, compact and has good capacity with excellent filtration efficiency.

 

It automatically cuts the suction 8 seconds after the power tool has been switched off to ensure 100% dust extraction!

 
MORE ABOUT THE STACKVAC
 

MIGHTY HSV - 21 L M-Class 110 V Industrial Dust Extraction Vacuum Cleaner

 

Mighty by name, mighty by nature! The V-TUF MIGHTY HSV 110 is well-known as the toughest piece of kit for extracting MIGHTY amounts of dust on the biggest, toughest jobs! This powerful 1250 W vacuum is lightweight, compact and has a robust design with excellent filtration efficiency.

 
GET AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE MIGHTY HSV
 

MAXi - 80L H-Class 240 V 3500 W Industrial Dust Extraction Vacuum Cleaner

 

The MAXi 240 V vacuum cleaner offers powerful cleaning performance for cleaning large areas. It's built to withstand tough environments with a durable and heavy-duty stainless steel tank and rugged chassis. For peace of mind, the MAXi comes with 3 layers of filtration (cartridge filter, basket filter & waste bag), giving you maximum dirt removal whilst protecting and saving lives from fatal dust-inflicted diseases.

 
DISCOVER THE MAXI
 

THE V-TUF dust extraction accessories

 

• 38 mm Vacuum Cleaner Bulldozer 450 mm Wide (Bulldozer and Extractor Head)
• 15 m High-Performance Hose For MAXi (Light & Flexible & Long-Range Cleaning Freedom)
• V-TUF Drill Pod Shroud Tool (Dust-Free Drilling)

 

Combat construction dust with V-TUF

 

Don’t take chances when it comes to dust extraction. Protect workforces against the harmful particles created by so many day-to-day tasks, and keep your site compliant with stringent HSE standards.

 

V-TUF has high stock levels of our dust extraction products and reliable delivery all over the United Kingdom. For more information about our vacuums and accessories, talk to the team today on 01522 787978 or email enquiries@v-tuf.com

 
CONTACT THE TEAM
 
CHECK OUT OUR DUST EXTRACTORS