Wherever there is construction, there will be dust. It’s inevitable and part of the job. However, being exposed to dust is health and work hazard. Excessive exposure to dust, may lead to your workers experiencing reduced lung function, allergies, among other respiratory issues.
That is why it’s important to take preventative measures and learn how to get rid of dust in the air. There are different methods to control dust in construction sites and this article will elaborate on those common and effective methods.
- Using cast-in anchor systems
It’s much better to use cast-in anchor channels, which will remove the need for drilling throughout the installation process. This prevents generating dust without having to sacrifice any load capabilities.
- Using dust removal systems
You can find various dust removal systems from reputable companies like bosstek.com, which are attachable pieces of equipment. These will offer local exhaust ventilation, getting vacuum suctions in the working area, clearing out dust.
Besides dust removal systems, other dust control methods use cleaning products or materials, such as:
- Water
- Brine or salt
- Liquid polymers
- Vegetable oils
- Cleaning with vacuums and shadow vacuum techniques
It might be tempting to use a broom and sweep away. While this looks like it does the job, you might still have hazardous substances around, putting workers’ health in danger. Dust might end up in cracks or blown away from winds, and it’s a more tedious task compared to vacuuming.
Vacuum cleaners are a more effective method of keeping dust away. It safely removes almost all dust particles around the area, including cracks and hard-to-reach areas. It’s recommended to use shadow vacuuming techniques as you vacuum the site, which is through holding your vacuum’s nozzle close to the task to remove dust as it’s being generated.
Furthermore, avoid using compressed air guns as a replacement for vacuuming or sweeping. While it blows away dust from cracks and hard-to-reach areas, it doesn’t contain the dust. It simply blows it away and keeps it around the air.
- Direct fastening or wet coring over anchoring and drilling
There are certain situations where you can use direct fastening methods instead of anchoring or drilling. This method will fasten materials together with powder or gas-actuated loads. Once the fasteners are in, the material will be displaced instead of removed, so no dust will be generated.
Another alternative to anchoring is through using wet coring, using water management systems for this method. With a constant flow of water, it will absorb any waste particles and form slurry, so when removing it from your base materials, the slurry will be taken care of.
When you collect the hazardous dust and materials into slurries, it makes cleaning up easier and safer.
Wrapping It Up
These are a few of the effective methods to follow to ensure dust control around construction sites and projects. Adopt any of these methods for your workers’ safety and to keep dust away from sites now.
