Causes of COPD: The critical role of dust control in occupational safety
Health and Safety Executive, England (HSE) determined that there are 12,000 Lung Disease deaths each year estimated to be linked to past exposures at work
6th December 2024
In their most recent statistics, Health and Safety Executive, England (HSE) determined that there are 12,000 Lung Disease deaths each year estimated to be linked to past exposures at work[1].
Of those 12,000 deaths, a shocking 35% have attributed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as a contributing factor[2]. The risk that COPD presents whilst at work can be minimised, if the correct preventative measures are in place.
What is COPD?
According to the NHS, COPD “happens when the lungs and airways become damaged and inflamed” due to genetic factors or long-term exposure to harmful substances[3]. These substances can include cigarette smoke, air pollution and even dust and fumes at work.
The damage to your lungs from COPD is permanent and doesn’t get better, so it’s vital to be proactive in reducing the risk of long-term exposure to harmful substances in the workplace.
What Occupations are at Risk?
A number of occupations are at higher risk of getting COPD due to the nature or the work and materials that they handle.
Based on their regular research, HSE have found that the following occupations are linked with a possible increased risk of developing COPD:
Construction – Construction activity like demolition, piling, wall chasing, jack hammering etc can produce large quantities of respirable dust which, if not managed effectively, pose serious health risks including COPD.
Quarries – Quarrying can disturb materials like the stone or aggregate in the quarry and produce dust which then disperses into the wider environment.
Stonemasonry – Handling and cutting stone regularly can expose stonemasons to Silica Dust, an even more harmful form of respirable dust which, when inhaled, puts them at risk of COPD and other long-term diseases such as cancer.
Although PPE can help protect workers by creating barriers between them and the substance, respirable dust is much smaller and more difficult to control, meaning PPE alone may not be enough to stop inhalation.
RVT Group is a specialist hire company offering solutions that can capture harmful dust at the source to limit exposure.
Some examples of how RVT’s dust control equipment can help mitigate dust exposure are:
Dust Extraction
Silica and other types of harmful construction dust present when cutting stone, walls and other materials can be captured at the source to limit both exposure levels and duration of exposure.
A DUSTEX® DustMaster Pro extraction unit can capture dust at the source and filter it through 3 stages of filtration including HEPA, to virtually eliminate dust migration and protect workers.
Dust from cutting materials on-site can impact, not just the person carrying out the activity, but the surrounding team or wider public.
An All-In-One Solution from RVT Group isolates the work activity taking place, containing noise and dust to one area.
This enclosure prevents dust from spreading into surrounding areas, which is crucial when working inside a live environment close to the general public.
It can also be paired with a DUSTEX® dust control solution to remove and filter dust from the enclosure, minimising the chance of harmful dust exposure for the person carrying out the works.
Furthermore, it also offers superior noise reduction of us to 33.6 dB
When quarrying or demolishing is part of a project, managing the airborne dust must be a priority as the scale of the work is likely to impact more people, sometimes beyond the project site.
DUSTEX® Dust Suppression units spray water over the dust as it is created. When water molecules attach themselves to dust molecules, the additional weight pulls them to the ground, preventing them from becoming airborne.
When a large amount of construction dust is settled on the floor, surfaces and machinery, it needs to be tidied and removed from the space safely ready for the next stage of works. It is important to use a dust vacuum that is suitable for collecting different types of construction dust in line with HSE Guidance.
Unlike sweeping, a DUSTEX® Vacuum can remove dust without making it airborne, with both M and H-Class Vacuums available. Our range of vacuum hire solutions effortlessly collect dust and come with convenient features including a large floor bar, wand attachments and on-tool dust extraction.
Personal Dust Monitoring gives a real-time insight into the potential dust exposure risk for individual workers. Dust monitoring with alerting equipment instantly flags when safe levels are close to being breached, enabling workers to evacuate or to take action to make the environment safe.
Simply secure RVT’s personal dust monitor within the breathing zone—30cm below the nose and mouth—and receive real-time, precise readings of airborne particulates, giving those on site the confidence to work safely.
It’s hard not to be disheartened by the ongoing correlation between construction dust exposure and the cause of COPD, still we must continue to raise awareness of the risks and how to control them to reduce the number of lives affected. Reducing this number is what drives RVT to continue to:
Invest in our own research and development, so we can continue to bring to the market our own top-of-the-range dust control equipment. (as seen on construction enquirer directory).
Stay committed to increasing awareness about the devastating effects that poor hazard control can have on the health of workers through CPD training and industry events hosted across the UK.
Offer free advice through our highly experienced and BOHS trained consultants, for those on site who need guidance on how to stay compliant with health and safety regulations.
By working with contractors to install proactive dust control measures, we’re confident that we can reduce this key cause of COPD and help protect workers before they fall victim to this and other irreversible lung diseases.
Do you have dust under control? From PPE to a COSHH risk assessment - follow the steps in this checklist to keep everyone safe from hazardous construction dust.
