Construction dust can seriously harm your workers’ health and even affect the quality of their work as well. Breathing construction dust regularly can cause diseases such as silicosis, asthma, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Some of these diseases can in some instances lead to death. You, therefore, need to have dust control measures from BossTek on your site to keep the dust in check.
Recognize that dust is a workplace hazard
The dust formed at the workplace is not the same as the dust in your home. The dust is created by construction operations and is made of tiny particles such as ceramic, wood, powdered crystal, metal, and concrete. Some features make dust a health and safety hazard. They include combustibility and toxicity.
Combustibility and toxicity risk
It is no surprise that dust explosions have happened in many workplaces, including chemical, construction, and food facilities. This is mainly because different combustible dust particles can be present in your workplace. Managing the explosive risk requires excellent housekeeping practices to ensure negligible quantities of dust in the air to cause combustion. Dust produced on the construction site comes from cutting, sandblasting, and grinding. This dust contains silica, a compound that is hazardous to the health of anyone that comes into contact with it.
How to Ensure Effective Dust Control
The best way to deal with dust is by sweeping it away or using compressed air to blow it away. This is a very tedious method to clear dust, but it is the most effective method to control dust at the workplace, but they don’t permanently eliminate all the health and safety risks.
Here are some of the best practices to manage dust at your workplace.
Eliminate dust from its source
An effective dust control method that captures as much dust from the source’s source. This involves moving the airborne dust particles through the duct system and the dust collector.
Clean the hidden areas often
Ensure that those who clean your workplace always clean the areas that can be easily overlooked. Such places include the top part of the support beam, ventilation shafts, and false ceilings. The areas aren’t easily seen and can accumulate excessive dust that can cause hurt to your work site.
Design a dust-free workplace
Design a dust-free workplace that prevents dust build-up. You can do this by eliminating flat surfaces around your workplace. Getting rid of unused surfaces is also a great way to ensure that dust does not accumulate in unwanted spaces. If your business is undergoing retrofitting or renovations, you must implement dust combating designs before starting with the construction projects. Once you do, you reduce the amount of time that the workers have to spend cleaning after a renovation.
Maintain your equipment well and have it well serviced at all time
Always keep your ventilation system and equipment and your workplace clean and in proper working order. It would help if you established procedures for your ventilation systems. Ensure that the systems are well inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendation and must be replaced.
Effective dust suppression methods for your construction site will help keep your worksite safe and more productive. When choosing the best approach, it is best to choose one that is environmentally friendly and fits your budget.
