How To Control Dust On A Construction Site

Dust suppression systems play a vital in keeping construction worksites clean. When done properly, dust control will protect workers and nearby residents from harmful exposure to airborne dust particles. Let’s take a look at a few ways to control dust accumulation on a construction site.

1. Physical Barriers

When dealing with indoor construction projects, teams will usually construct physical barriers to guard themselves from excess dust and debris. Crews often build barricades, taping down some areas, and utilizing dust collectors to prevent excess accumulation.

Once essential team members are inside the building or room, signs should be posted to limit access. This ultimately prevents dust from escaping while also stopping unprotected workers from entering the site.

2. Water The Site Down

The easiest way to prevent dust accumulation in outdoor sites is to simply spray the entire area with water prior to the day. Site managers will use a water truck to hose down places that see a lot of traffic during the construction process.

This can be an impactful method, but keep in mind you may have to spray the area down multiple times depending on the location and weather. However, excessive water has been proven to cause on-site erosion.

3. Invest In Dust Suppression System Services

Dust suppression refers to the techniques and methods applied to ultimately control and reduce airborne dust particles in several different environments. There are many common creators of airborne dust, such as quarries and mines, construction sites, both paved and unpaved roads, material handling facilities, and more.

Particulate matter from the aforementioned sources can become fugitive when they combine with either wind or mechanical force. Unfortunately, these particles pose substantial health risks to workers and any individuals nearby. This can also wear equipment down and cause environmental damage.

Dust suppression systems mix water, chemicals, and various other materials to prevent dust from entering the air. These systems can also trap and eradicate dust once it is in the air. The overall goal is to keep individuals and the environment clean and safe.

Dust suppression methods have been used for decades in the U.S. Recently, government agencies have tightened regulations across service industries, designed to advance the technology used to combat airborne dust particles.

4. Always Wear PPE

Personal protective equipment (PPE) needs to be worn on-site, regardless of the specific project. Generally, this consists of goggles, hardhats, masks, and gloves. This equipment acts as a barrier between you and the collection of dust.

The best PPE for dust specifically are respirators and dust masks. All employers need to ensure employees receive a medical exam for proper fitting and usage before starting the task. It’s crucial to wear this equipment properly in order to stay safe from potential health hazards.

5. Utilize Remote-Controlled Equipment

Today, many companies utilize drones to help analyze hazardous areas without having to enter them.

There are also other remote controlled-vehicles that allow employees to construct remotely. These can mitigate risk while still being more efficient than a physical team on the ground.

6. Control And Ventilate The Site

Dust buildup is inevitable at most sites. Utilize partition walls in large work areas and wait until all employees are gone before cleaning up.

In smaller sites, a ventilation system could supply fresh air while extracting airborne dust and harmful fumes. This can help ensure dust concentrations do not get too high and also minimizes carbon monoxide poisoning risk.

7. Apply Polymers

Try applying polymers to topsoil prior to spraying the area with water. However, this dust suppression method is only effective in areas that do not feature any vehicle travel.

This chemical binding will eliminate the need to constantly saturate the earth with water. Always check to make sure there are no state laws that do not permit polymer use on construction projects.