PROTECTING AGAINST RESPIRATORY RISKS
As dust continues to be one of the main hazards facing construction workers , RVT Group discuss the importance of containing and managing dust on-site .
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 . The Health and Safety Executive ( HSE 19 / 20 ) states that 13,000 deaths each year are estimated to be linked to past exposure at work , primarily to chemicals or dust . 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 .
It is therefore essential to adequately protect our workforce against dust created from common construction and renovation activities , by installing the correct dust control measures .
Understanding the Risk
A vast amount of dust is created from wall chasing , tile cutting , stone cutting , sanding wood , drilling , abrasive blasting , demolition and other construction activities . Contractors therefore need to use temporary dust controls to ensure that they are not only protecting themselves , but others working in close proximity . Failure to install adequate dust control will leave workers exposed to respiratory health problems . The contractor could also risk prosecution if they fail to comply with HSE regulations . On 4th October 2021 , the HSE launched a specific inspection focus into the construction industry ; checking that sites have the correct controls in place to protect their workers from exposure to construction dust , such as silica , asbestos and wood dust .
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