1. —
Respiratory damage and illnesses
Airborne dust can produce or worsen severe respiratory problems,
ranging from pneumonia to lung cancer
—
Occupational asthma
—
Dermatological issues, including cancer
—
Eye irritation and visual impairment
—
Contaminated or damaged products
—
Fall and fire hazards
—
Injury from explosive fires
Workplace incidents involving combustible dust have caused
more than 100 deaths and 700+ injuries in the last three decades
Silica, asbestos and other
mineral dusts can be deadly if
inhaled in large concentrations
HSE estimates silica dust is
responsible for 500 construction
worker deaths annually
Wood dust can
cause breathing irritation
and dermatitis
Workers exposed to wood
dust are 4x more likely to
develop asthma
Certain dusts can contain
irritating chemicals or
corrosive properties that
damage skin
Dust can settle on
walking surfaces,
affecting grip
Deposits of dust can
accumulate in the eye,
occluding vision and
causing damage
Paint particles, epoxy,
metal, chemical and
other dusts are classified
as combustible dust
The Causes of Such Dangers
— Ensure there is adequate ventilation
—
Maintain HVAC components and regularly change air filters
—
Increase health and safety training procedures
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that airborne dust can lead
to penalties, fines and a damaged reputation
— Encourage regular health check-ups
—
Provide sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE),
including Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
— Contain or close contaminated areas
—
Wet tools before cutting materials to reduce dust
accumulation, when applicable
— Activate dust extractors and other extraction tools
—
Utilize industrial vacuums to clean work areas
Cutting-edge models remove at least 99.97% of dust particles as small as 0.3 microns in size
The Danger Of
Dealing With Dust
In The Workplace
Sources: tuffwrap.com/blog/dust-debris-affect-employees-work-space | ehstoday.com/industrial-hygiene/article/21118633/dealing-with-dust-in-the-workplace
safetyrisk.net/dangers-of-dust-in-the-workplace-and-how-to-handle-it | haspod.com/blog/health/dust-hazards-in-the-workplace | pulsarinstruments.com/en/post/dust-
workplace-protect-your-workforce | nccer.org/news-research/newsroom/blogpost/breaking-ground-the-nccer-blog/2021/06/17/how-we-can-reduce-dust-exposure-on-
work-sites | buddgroup.com/top-hazards-of-dust-in-the-workplace
The Dangers of Dust in the Workplace
Prevention and Minimization Measures
