Controlling dust during the refurbishment and extension of occupied premises. Construction Occupational Health case study COH15
22 December 2008
Potentially harmful dust in the form of airborne particulates is an everyday, inevitable by-product of using a huge range of power tools and equipment in the construction and related industries. Whether using hammer drills, floor grinders, angle-grinders or woodworking tools, dust is created, and with it the potential to cause health problems for operatives, co-workers, and members of the public.
Cutting and breaking out concrete generates high levels of respirable dust, which contains tiny particles called respirable crystalline silica (RCS). In normal lighting the dust cannot be seen as it is so fine.
All RCS is hazardous and can cause silicosis and other serious lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or lung cancer leading to permanent disability or early early death.
A case study outlines how Oxford-based contractors Knowles & Son (Oxford) Ltd dealt with dust control on a project building a new teaching suite and making alterations to existing accommodation at Denman College, the Women's Institute (WI) residential college near Oxford.
To read more, click on the link below
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/coh15.pdf?ebul=cons/dec08&cr=4