Space invaders

Asbestos Fibres

Cement Dust

Chemicals

Insulating boards, roofing, asbestos,

cement, cladding fibre gaskets, ducts,
flues, floor tiles and guttering debris.

From handling dry cement

Adhesives and epoxy resin

Wood Dust
Soft and hard wood, fibre boards,
plywood, chipboard and MDF

Silica Dust
Stone, mortar, bricks, concrete
blocks, kerbs, slabs, granite, tiles,
shale, sand and gravel

Mould Spores
Organic and animal debris at
demolition, renovation, maintenance
and clearance sites

Isocyanates
Paint spraying and use of
products containing isocyanates
e.g. two pack paints

Flour Dust

Welding Fumes

Flour or grains like wheat, barley,

oats in bakeries, granaries, silos and
production facilities

Fumes from welding metals

Lets clear the air on dust control

Dust includes all airborne particles: general dust,
wood, stone, sand and concrete, flour, grain, asbestos
fibres, mould spores, fumes and chemicals and spray
from two pack paints containing isocyanates.
It is estimated that 8000 people die each year from
asbestos and work related lung disease. 156,000 suffer
work related breathing or lung problems.

SAFETY FROM THE GROUND UP

www.speedyhire.co.uk/safety

Small dust particles, invisible to the naked eye, are

extremely dangerous and lodge deep in the lungs.
We offer alternative tools and dust monitoring,
extraction and suppression equipment, PPE
and training.

Lets clear the air on dust control

0845 606 6886

With thanks to the Health and Safety Executive

Dust is deadly
Wood dust
Cutting, planing,
sanding and boring
wood and MDF

Welding fumes
and sprays

Nasal cancer,
asthma

Welding and sheet

metal work. Isocyanates
and two pack paints

COPD, asthma
Stone dust
Cutting kerbs and
slabs, and working
with concrete, granite,
gravel and sand

Asbestos
Demolition,
refurbishment
and maintenance
projects

Lung cancer,
silicosis, COPD

Mesothelioma
lung cancer,
asbestosis

Dont let dust get airborne

Many activities create dust. Larger particles are
trapped in the nose and throat and can cause irritation
and illness.The smaller and most dangerous particles
lodge deep in the lungs and can cause fatal diseases.
Asbestos causes mesothelioma, other lung cancers
and asbestosis.
Wood dust causes nasal cancer and asthma.
Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) from stone dust
causes silicosis and lung fibrosis.

Lead is toxic and can be inhaled or can enter the body

via contamination for example from hands.
Welding fumes can cause diseases such as asthma or
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
Dusts can cause many respiratory diseases such as
COPDs, including bronchitis and emphysema.
We offer alternative tools and dust monitoring,
extraction and suppression equipment, PPE and training.

Lets clear the air on dust control

SAFETY FROM THE GROUND UP

www.speedyhire.co.uk/safety

0845 606 6886

With thanks to the Health and Safety Executive

Spot the invisible killer

Risk assessment is a legal requirement

The air around you may look and feel clean but, beware the invisible killer!
Small dust particles, invisible to the naked eye, are
extremely dangerous and lodge deep in the lungs.

Use dust control measures. Dust monitoring equipment

can assess the threat and if your equipment is working well.

If there is a risk of creating dust, adopt these principles:

Look out for your mate; you have a legal duty to take
reasonable care of yourself and others around you.

AVOID Avoid creating dust by doing the job another way.

PREVENT If dust creation is unavoidable, prevent exposure by
providing adequate control measures, e.g extracting dust at source.
MINIMISE If you cant prevent exposure, you must reduce it
to as low a level as is reasonably practical.

If you cant control dust, PPE can give important protection.
Choose the correct type and ensure it fits properly.
We offer alternative tools and dust monitoring, extraction
and suppression equipment, PPE and training.

Lets clear the air on dust control

SAFETY FROM THE GROUND UP

www.speedyhire.co.uk/safety

0845 606 6886

With thanks to the Health and Safety Executive

PPE, your last line of defence

Use the right type and ensure it fits

 efore using PPE consider all ways of preventing
B
and minimising dust exposure e.g. dust extraction.
 hen using PPE, make sure it is the correct type,
W
that it fits properly and is in good condition.
Consider all forms of PPE, e.g. gloves and goggles.

F
 or higher risk or regular exposure, use
breathing apparatus when adequate exposure
control cant be achieved by other means.
 e offer alternative tools and dust monitoring,
W
extraction and suppression equipment, PPE and training.

Lets clear the air on dust control

SAFETY FROM THE GROUND UP

www.speedyhire.co.uk/safety

0845 606 6886

With thanks to the Health and Safety Executive

Dust sucks

Dont let dust get airborne

Use tools with extraction systems for cutting, drilling,
sanding wood, stone, concrete blocks and kerbs.
Dont use ordinary vacs! Use a HEPA (H) filter dust
control unit that removes large and small particles.
Dust levels in enclosed spaces can be very high, so use
dust extraction equipment and the correct PPE.
For some tasks, water suppression systems and
damping down is appropriate. This also improves tool
efficiency and reduces vibration.

SAFETY FROM THE GROUND UP

www.speedyhire.co.uk/safety

The use of dust monitoring equipment, lamps

and samplers, may be necessary to ensure
adequate protection.
Temporary polythene dust exclusion zones can
limit contamination.
We offer alternative tools and dust monitoring,
extraction and suppression equipment, PPE and training.

Lets clear the air on dust control

0845 606 6886

With thanks to the Health and Safety Executive