The Hierarchy of Control

Dust is one of the main hazards facing on-site workers. Therefore, with PPE currently in extremely high demand by the NHS and other key workers, it is more important than ever to re-look at your engineering controls to capture and contain dust at its source on site.

In their latest guidelines on site practices during the COVID-19 crisis, The CLC have stated that all on site activities should be “risk assessed using the hierarchy of controls and against any sector-specific guidance,” and also remind site workers to be “mindful that masks (RPE) are the last resort in the hierarchy”.¹

We should all be familiar with the hierarchy of controls;

1. Elimination
2. Substitution
3. Engineering controls
4. Administrative controls
5. PPE

If you are unable to physically remove the hazard, redesign the job, substitute materials or change the process, then you need to look at engineering controls before you jump to administrative controls or PPE.

It is also important to note, if you rely solely on PPE, then you are not improving and protecting the site environment for others; whilst the person wearing the PPE will be protected, everyone else in the surrounding environment will be affected by the dust. Therefore, engineering controls will deliver more thorough hazard containment and control, effectively improving and protecting your site environment. For dust and fume control, the HSE recommend using Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) solutions to capture the dust at source.

What solutions are available?

RVT has a wide range of dust control equipment available and are experts in creating bespoke hazard control solutions. Below are just a few examples of the units that can be used to create an effective dust control solution that does not rely on PPE.

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

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.

The flexible Dustex® Wandafilta can be connected to both an axial or centrifugal fan to capture and filter dust from a wide range of tasks and applications through easily removable, grade EU4 washable filters.

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

As well as our extraction and filtration units, RVT also have enclosures available. These can be set up quickly and are also mobile, so can easily move around site for different applications. For example, our Dustex® Air lock is designed to create an isolation airlock between a contaminated area and a sensitive environment. For maximum effectiveness, the Dustex Airlock should be used with the Dustex Raptor to create a positive pressure environment, ensuring that there is no risk of dust particle migration to surrounding areas.

By using these engineering controls, you do not have to reply on scant PPE and will be effectively protected from dust on site.

You can view our full Dustex® range here.

For more information on how RVT can help capture, contain and control dust on your site, please call 0808 178 3286 or email us at customerservices@rvtgroup.co.uk.

¹ Construction Leadership Council (2020) Site Operating Procedures [Online, Version 3] Page 6