Dust

You might not realise it, but workers in the construction sector are 20 times more likely to die of exposure to harmful airborne substances than from a workplace accident.

Construction workers that smoke are at even greater risk.

Every year, an estimated 600-900 people die in New Zealand from work-related health issues and a further 5,000-6,000 people in New Zealand are hospitalised after being exposed to airborne contaminants at work, including wood dust and silica.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers have a responsibility, as far as is reasonably practicable, to keep their workers not only safe, but healthy as well. And this means thinking about how risks like dust can be eliminated, isolated or managed.

So, what kind of work creates dust and what can you do about it? We've put together some quick tips on how you can help protect yourself and your workers.

What is dust?

Dust is tiny, dry particles in the air. It can be produced when materials are cut, drilled, demolished, sanded or shovelled. This means many work activities can create dust. The dust that can’t be seen is the dust that can cause the most harm. Breathing in dust can have both acute and chronic effects, potentially causing long term health issues for builders.

Do you know how much dust you come into contact with?

Dust is generated by:

cutting, sanding, grinding sweeping, and polishing operations
old lead pipes (lead oxide dust)
stripping out fibrous insulation, lagging or packing materials (potentially asbestos)
being on a dry and exposed work site
wind and heat

In dry weather, circulation of dust in the air increases.

Take sand, for example. It can be fatal when breathed into your lungs over time, and if sand is your building material, on a windy day your product is literally flying away.

Exposure to silica dust (a major component of beach sand and granite) can cause silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Silica can be found in cement concrete, bricks, rocks, stone, sand and clay.

Breathing in silica dust can cause lung tissue to scar, a condition referred to as silicosis. This scarring results in a loss of lung function. The effects of silicosis are permanent and may continue to develop even after exposure has stopped. Once silicosis has developed, there can be an increased risk of kidney disease and tuberculosis.

Testing for it is difficult so prevention for yourself and others is important.

Symptoms of silicosis to watch out for include:

frequent dry coughing
shortness of breath
wheezing
increased tiredness

How do you reduce the health risks associated with dust?

By using water:

Continuous water and wet working methods can keep dust out of the air, and out of your lungs. Spray surfaces with water or cover (especially piles of sand or gravel outdoors). Make sure you have enough water available for whole job.
Clean equipment and work areas frequently with a water hose. Don’t dry sweep.
Remember that dust silt can’t go down the drain. It needs to be collected up and then disposed of.

By extraction methods:

On-tool extraction.
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV). For example, this can be used for places of work which cut, grind and polish stone.
Be aware of where the dust is going because it may affect other workers and the public.

Hygiene:

Wash face and hands immediately after finishing tasks and before eating, drinking or smoking.
Wash contaminated work gear, clothing and boots on site if possible.
It is a good idea to wash dusty clothes separately.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

Wear PPE suitable for the task and in accordance with the material safety data sheet (MSDS), such as respiratory protection, hearing protection, overalls, jacket, gloves, hard hat and eye protection.
It’s a good idea to seek professional advice about the right type of respiratory protection.

Site Safe offers a four-hour Passport renewal course introducing the topic of worker health, which includes dust.

Other steps you should consider are air monitoring, health monitoring, training and warning signs.