How to Get the Best from Your Dust Control System

Why is dust control on site necessary?

Many construction activities create hazardous dust, and exposure to any dust in excessive amounts can cause respiratory problems. Dust particles come in a range of sizes, but smaller dust particles, known as respirable dust, are so fine that they can settle deep within the lungs. This can then cause serious health problems, such as lung cancer, COPD, asbestosis, silicosis and asthma. Unfortunately, these diseases may only become evident after a long period of time and when it is too late for treatment to have any effect.

In the HSE’s most recent statistics report (2018/19), they released these frightening figures:

• 13,000 deaths were estimated to be linked to past exposure at work, primarily to chemicals or dust.
• 12,000 deaths are caused by occupational lung diseases, primarily Mesothelioma, Asbestos-related lung cancer, non-asbestos related lung cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
• 18,000 new cases of breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by work each year have been reported over the last three years according the Labour Force Survey.
• 132 new cases of occupational asthma seen by chest physicians in 2018.
• HSE’s most recent cancer burden report puts the number of lung cancer deaths associated with exposure to RCS (Respirable Crystalline Silica) at around 600 deaths per year with 450 of these occurring from exposures in the construction sector.

Therefore, an effective dust control system on site is vital to protect your health, the health of others on site, and of those nearby.

Achieving Effective Dust Control On Site

In our latest best practice guide, RVT has laid out guidance that will help you get the best from your dust control system. Of course, effective dust control does not just rely on the solution equipment, but on your actions as well. In this guide, we recommend that you break your project down into five stages before work commences:

1. Before you start
2. Setting Up
3. During Work
4. Maintenance
5. Dismantling

For each stage, our guide provides you with comprehensive advice on how to effectively assess your site environment before and during works, and how to identify problems that may arise over the course of your project. By taking this proactive approach, you ensure that your dust solution equipment can perform to its full potential on site.

Alongside this advice, our dust control experts also advise on the safe setting up, maintaining and dismantling of your dust control system. With these detailed and straightforward instructions, you will be able to use and look after your system with confidence, allowing for optimum on site dust control that will protect yourself and others from dangerous exposure.

What solutions are available?

RVT has a wide range of dust filtration and extraction equipment available in our Dustex® range, and we are experts in creating bespoke dust control solutions. Below are just a few examples of the units that can be used to create an effective dust control solution.

Our self-contained and portable Dustex® Raptor incorporates a powerful and robust axial fan which can deliver variable speed airflows from 350m3/hr to 1070m3/hr. This makes it the most compact portable filtration unit of its airflow rating on the market.

The Dustex® DustoMat 10 provides high-performance extraction and is suitable for fine filtration and hazardous dust types, including mineral dust. Its articulated arms allow for maximum dust capture, and cleanable cartridge filters ensure a filter system with a long service life and low operating costs.

Our Dustex® Dustmaster features a 600mm x 600mm capture hood which, when positioned as close to the dust-producing activity as possible, ensures that dust is captured at source. A high-power axial fan will then extract the dust, forcing it through up to three stages of highly effective filter media.

All of these powerful and mobile units are very quiet in operation, making them particularly suitable for sensitive environments.

With this best practice guide, which is available as a free download, you can receive specific advice on how to achieve effective dust control now, protecting against dangerous dust exposure and making your site safe for everyone.

View our full best practice guide here

View our Dustex® range here

If you require further support with your on site dust control, then RVT are always happy to help. Please call on 0808 178 3286 for solutions and specialist advice.