Take
control
of dust
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Take control of dust
How dust can wreck lives
Permanent lung damage doesn’t need to be a feature of working on site – protecting the
industry’s workers from the effects of construction dust can be tackled with a few simple steps
FOREWORD
THE CONSTRUCTION
DUST PARTNERSHIP
The Construction Dust
Partnership (CDP) was initiated
by the Health and Safety
Executive following research that
identified the industry as having
high exposure to workplace dust.
This exposure consequently
results in high levels of
respiratory disease including lung
cancer, silicosis, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and asthma.
It can cause workers to die early,
permanently damage their lungs,
drastically reduce the quality of
their life as they get older and have
a significant effect on their
families. Symptoms arise from
many repeated exposures over
time.Too many people think to
themselves “I’m only doing a quick
job” and do not protect themselves.
These little exposures add up over
Without controls, the risk of dust exposure is
high, as shown by the controlled experiment
at Hilti’s dust laboratory – see p9
the months and years and can give
rise to serious health problems.
Unfortunately, by the time the ill
health effects are felt, you may
have caused irreversible damage.
As we will see in this
supplement, protecting workers
from the effects of construction
dust needn’t be difficult or costly.
Making simple, practical changes
to the way jobs are done can
greatly reduce the amount of dust
created, help stop it from
spreading in the air and prevent it
being breathed in.
The CDP brings together
organisations from across the
industry to help protect workers
against the devastating effects of
breathing in construction dust.
Construction dust is a serious
risk to health and not just an
inevitable part of the job.
Visit the CDP website to take
advantage of the free resources
available: www.citb.co.uk/cdp
Towards zero inhalation
Trade body CONSTRUCT wants to help raise awareness of the dangers of construction dust.Taking
the right precautions and using the right equipment can make a huge difference to workers’ health
FOREWORD
ROBIN HOLDSWORTH
As a trade organisation,
CONSTRUCT is keen to ensure
that all of its 30 contractor
member companies work in safe
and healthy environments. To
ensure that they are aware of the
latest and potential legislation in
all aspects of health, safety and
the environment, it holds regular
meetings for the members’ health
and safety professionals.
CONSTRUCT also runs seminars
2 | Take control of dust
and training programmes on
topics such as the effects of
construction dust and how to
minimise it on sites and in
workshops. Our objective is to
raise awareness of the importance
of good occupational health.
Although the HSE has set
various maximum limits for
dust inhalation depending on
its type, CONSTRUCT is
determined to work towards
a zero-inhalation target.
To further encourage members,
we run an innovation award for
health and safety, which this year
was won by Hilti for its
development of equipment
designed to minimise dust at
source.This equipment, which our
members use for drilling and
cutting concrete, as well as the
“Our objective is to
raise awareness of
the importance of
good occupational
health”
sawing of timber, helps us to get
closer to our zero target.
By using such equipment
inhalation of, for example,
dangerous respirable silica dust,
can be easily minimised. Such new
equipment used in combination
with other precautions, such as
visors, shows how manufacturers
are aware of the dangers and
realities of work within the
construction industry.
Robin Holdsworth is chief executive
of CONSTRUCT
www.cnplus.co.uk
Contents
4-7 Tackle dust at
source on site
8-9 A look inside Hilti’s
dust research lab
10-11 Tools for dust
control
A CONSTRUCTION NEWS
SUPPLEMENT, IN
COLLABORATION WITH:
It’s time to take
action on dust
Dust could be ‘the next asbestos’ for the construction industry
INTRODUCTION
ANDREW GAVED
Welcome to our supplement Take
Control of Dust, which attempts
to highlight the risks to workers
from construction dust and to
point towards risk reduction
measures. Dust is a problem that
is not unique to the construction
industry, but the nature of the
business we are in means that
workers are exposed to its risks at
virtually every point in the
construction process.
It is the very fact that dust is so
ubiquitous on construction sites –
occurring during drilling, sawing,
breaking, grinding and
transportation – that has led
health and safety experts to warn
www.cnplus.co.uk
that it could be ‘the next asbestos’
for the industry if not tackled
head-on, because workers simply
do not realise that the dust arising
from concrete, tile, brick and
mortar is so hazardous to health.
Because of exposure to silica
dust, a shockingly high 500 people
are estimated to be dying each
year of lung cancer – and this is
probably a conservative estimate.
Now is the time to do something.
This supplement, the latest in a
series of collaborations between
Construction News and Hilti, aims
to show the ways that dust can be
“Only by taking a
fresh approach to
the problem will
we be able to take
control of dust”
tackled at source, by use of on-tool
extraction systems and by
avoiding, where possible, the
generation of dust in the first place.
This is going to mean a change
of culture for the industry –
drastically reducing wall chasing
or sawing, for instance, are moves
that will not be achieved overnight,
so it is vital to spread the message.
Thus we are very pleased to be
working closely with the
Construction Dust Partnership, a
cross-industry group whose
information and expert guidance
at www.citb.co.uk/citb will serve as
important resources.
We can have a significant effect
on the health of our workforce.
Only by taking a fresh approach to
the problem will we be able to
take control of dust. We hope you
find this a useful document to
start the process of change.
Published by Emap
Telephone House
69-77 Paul Street
London EC2A 4NQ
020 3033 2600
cnplus.co.uk
Supplement editor
Andrew Gaved
Take control of dust | 3
Take control of dust
Tackle dust at source
There are many effective ways to tackle dust on site. Appropriate use of the right equipment
will have a positive impact on the health of the workforce – not to mention its productivity
OVERVIEW
ANDREW GAVED
Dust is an occupational hazard of
site life, isn’t it? Everything, or
almost everything, that is a
construction activity creates dust
– drilling, breaking, grinding,
sawing. You name it.
But the message coming
through loud and clear from those
whose job it is to protect workers
is that the construction industry
needs to wake up to the problem
of dust exposure, because it isn’t
something that just makes you
sneeze or cough – it is something
that could ultimately kill you if
you don’t take steps to prevent it.
4 | Take control of dust
“Construction dust is not just a
nuisance; it can seriously damage
your health and some types can
eventually even kill.”
That isn’t just scaremongering;
that is the straight from the
mouth of the Health and Safety
Executive, in the introduction to
its guidance document on the
subject, called CIS36.
The HSE has formed a crossindustry group called the
Construction Dust Partnership –
with representatives from
contractors, hire companies and
tool and safety gear manufacturers
– in a bid to raise awareness of the
problem and to help the industry
to find ways to avoid it.
The HSE also has some pretty
compelling evidence – its latest
statistics bulletin shows that there
are almost 800 deaths every single
year from silica-related lung
cancer and 4,000 deaths from
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease related to dusts, vapours
and fumes.Although these aren’t
all related to construction, it is
clear that a significant number of
them will be, because the silica
that causes the worst problems is
found in concrete, mortar and
sandstone, as well as bricks and
tiles (see box on opposite page).
Potential for damage
Every time silica is drilled into,
sawn, ground smoothed, chased,
sanded or broken up, it creates
the potentially damaging fine
dust RCS (respirable crystalline
silica), which can travel deep into
the lungs.
There is an urgency to the
message because in addition to
the most serious disease, there are
other problems that the dust can
cause – namely silicosis, in which
lungs are scarred.
According to Chris Keen,
occupational hygienist with the
Health and Safety Laboratory, the
‘sharpness’ of RCS makes it
particularly nasty: “RCS can go
deep into the lungs and once
down there, it stays there. Once
breathed in, it stays there for life.
It is sharp and abrasive, so it
is doing damage and scarring
the lungs.”
Unfortunately, it is not just
silica dust that cause problems.
The Construction Dust
Partnership says: “Construction
dust includes silica, wood and
other dusts – eg gypsum from
plasterboard. The effect of
inhaling these highly hazardous
particles can result in severe and
irreversible respiratory illnesses.
Builders and tradesmen carrying
out jobs – including cutting
paving slabs or roof tiles, wall
chasing, grinding, sanding and
sweeping – are all at risk if control
measures are not in place and the
correct protection is not worn.”
However, these risks are
complicated by several factors:
Firstly, dust disease takes a long
time to manifest itself. “The long
latency of diseases associated
with construction dust exposure
means that managing and
controlling this risk is often
misunderstood or overlooked
until it is too late,” says the CDP.
Secondly, you don’t need to be
exposed to a lot of dust to go over
the exposure limit under the
relevant legislation, The Control
www.cnplus.co.uk
of Substances Hazardous to
Health Regulations 2002 (more
commonly known as COSHH). In
fact, it is a tiny amount – like a
small pinch of salt.
Hidden problem
Another problem is that the dust
particles that do the most damage
are too small to be visible to the
naked eye and they hang in the
air long after the construction
activity has finished –
astonishingly, as long as eight
hours. Thus dust exposure is thus
not just a problem for those who
create the dust but for others
around them on site.
Mr Keen says: “Only a small
proportion of the daily exposure
comes from the tools itself. The
rest is from dust around the site –
in an enclosed space the RCS dust
will be airborne for hours. There is
a risk of significant dust exposure
at every stage of the construction
process. The key is to keep things
clean and to clean up the dust as
soon as it is generated.”
As a result of all this, many
experts now believe that dust has
the potential to become a time
bomb for the industry if it is not
tackled soon.
One expert, whose standing in
the industry gives his view some
authority, says: “The problem with
construction is the exposure to
RCS is so common for workers. It
could actually be a bigger threat
than asbestos – the difference is
that nowadays, even the most
dyed-in-the-wool worker knows to
stop work when he finds asbestos.
But for dust, people simply don’t
recognise it as a risk.”
Some pretty high-profile figures
agree. Senior bosses at the recent
Construction News summit were
forthright on the need for action:
Nick Pollard, chief executive of
Balfour Beatty said: This industry
has a long way to go – far, far more
people die from work-related
disease in our industry than ever
die on construction sites. But the
immediate concern has been very
focused on construction site safety
rather than on occupational
disease.”
Paul Sheffield, formerly chief
executive of Kier and now
managing director of the
www.cnplus.co.uk
European hub of Laing O’Rourke
agreed: “Safety at Kier was
absolutely on the top of the page
of everything we did and a lot of
our projects do dust monitoring,
but the whole issue of health at
work is something that has been
ignored for far too long.”
This attitude is borne out by
the HSE’s recent Safer Sites
inspection campaigns, which
have seen increased focused on
health areas – the one this
summer saw more than 60
improvement or enforcement
notices handed out to
construction firms for dust
exposure failings, according to
the HSE’s database.
But there is good news: firstly,
the diseases are eminently
preventable, if the exposure is
limited appropriately; and
secondly, there are a lot of ways to
reduce dust exposure, from
extraction systems to water
suppression to alternative
activities that don’t create the
dust. Importantly, these measures
aim to stop the dust, rather than
merely defending against it. The
message from the CDP and the
HSL alike is that while it is
essential to wear the appropriate
type of mask – referred to as RPE
(Respiratory Protective
Equipment) – the main goal
should be to stop dust at source, or
where possible, avoid it altogether.
Exposure limitation
Mr Keen says: “You need to take it
back to first principles and, if
possible, avoid cutting masonry
on site – there will always be a
measure of cutting required, but
materials can be supplied in precut lengths.”
This is welcome news for those
tasked with health and safety on
site, in that the control of dust on
site should be more a question of
selecting appropriate methods
and equipment than of timing
and measuring workers’ exposure.
A key element is to segregate
work where possible, Mr Keen says,
so that other workers are not
exposed to the dust that has been
created by someone else: “Even if
they had controls in place for the
original work, there will still be a
dust risk.”
Here is a breakdown of the
HSE’s guidance on controlling
construction dust:
Assess the risks
Assess the risks linked to the
work and materials. High dust
levels are caused by one or more
of the following:
■ Task The more energy the work
involves, the bigger the risk. Highenergy tools such as cut-off saws,
grinders and grit blasters produce
a lot of dust in a very short time;
■ Work area The more enclosed a
space, the more the dust will
build up. However, do not assume
that dust levels will be low when
working outside with highenergy tools;
■ Time The longer the work takes
the more dust there will be;
■ Frequency Regularly doing the
same work day after day increases
the risks.
Control the risks
Use the following measures to
control the risk.
Stop or reduce the dust Before
work starts, look at ways of
stopping or reducing the amount
of dust you might make. Use
different materials, or tools or
other work methods. For example
you could use:
■ The right size of building
materials so less cutting or
preparation is needed;
■ Silica-free abrasives to reduce
the risks when blasting;
■ A different tool – eg a block
splitter instead of a cut-off saw;
■ A different method of work
“There is a risk
of significant
dust exposure
at every stage of
the construction
process. The key is
to keep things clean
and to clean up the
dust as soon as it
is generated”
altogether – eg a direct fastening
system.
Control the dust
Even if you stop some dust this
way, you may do other work that
could still produce high dust
levels. In these cases, the most
important action is to stop the
dust getting into the air. There are
two main ways of doing this:
■ Water Water damps down dust
clouds. However, it needs to be
used correctly. This means
enough water supplied at the
right levels for the whole time
that the work is being done. Just
wetting the material beforehand
does not work.
■ On-tool extraction that
removes dust as it is being
produced. It is a type of local
exhaust ventilation (LEV) system
that fits directly onto the tool.
This ‘system’ consists of several
individual parts – the tool,
capturing hood, extraction unit
and tubing. Use an extraction
unit to the correct specification,
APPROX. CRYSTALLINE SILICA CONTENT OF MATERIALS
Sandstone
70-90%
Concrete, mortar
25-70%
Tile
30-45%
Granite
20-45%, typically 30%
Slate
20-40%
Brick
Up to 30%
Limestone
2%
Marble
2%
Take control of dust | 5
Take control of dust
area (eg in enclosed spaces such
as indoors);
■ Selecting work clothes that do
not keep hold of the dust. You
also need to make sure workers
are doing the job in the right way
and are using controls properly;
■ Train workers about dust risks
and how this can harm their
health; how to use the dust
controls and check that they are
working; how to maintain and
clean equipment; how to use and
look after RPE and other personal
protective equipment (PPE) and;
what to do if something goes
wrong.
Review the controls
You may already have the right
controls in place, but are they all
working properly? Check the
controls work by:
■ Having procedures to ensure
that work is done in the right
way;
■ Checking controls are effective.
Does the work still seem dusty?
You might need to carry out dust
exposure monitoring;
■ Involving workers. They can
help identify problems and find
solutions;
ie H (High) M (Medium) or L
(Low) Class filter unit. Don’t just
use a general commercial
vacuum.
■ Respiratory protective
equipment (RPE) Water or
on-tool extraction may not
always be appropriate or they
might not reduce exposure
enough. Often respiratory
protection has to be provided as
well. You will need to make sure
that the RPE is:
■ Adequate for the amount and
type of dust – RPE has an assigned
protection factor (APF) that
shows how much protection it
gives the wearer. The general level
for construction dust is an APF of
20. This means the wearer only
breathes one-twentieth of the
amount of dust in the air if the
mask if used correctly;
■ Suitable for the work –
disposable masks or half masks
can become uncomfortable to
wear for long periods. Powered
RPE helps minimise this.
6 | Take control of dust
■ Maintaining equipment: follow
instructions in maintenance
manuals;
■ Regularly look for signs of
damage. Make repairs;
■ Replace disposable masks in
line with manufacturer’s
recommendations;
■ Properly clean, store, and
maintain non-disposable RPE.
Change RPE filters as
recommended by the supplier;
■ Carry out a thorough
examination and test of any
on-tool extraction system at least
every 14 months.
■ Supervising workers. Make sure
they use the controls provided;
■ Follow the correct work
method;
■ Attend any health surveillance
where it is needed.
You may have to put a health
surveillance programme in place
– if necessary, take advice on this
from an occupational health
professional.
Notes are from HSE guidance
CIS36 are downloadable from
the CDP site, with many other
resources including toolbox talks:
www.citb.co.uk/cdp
Consider it when people are
working for more than an hour
without a break;
■ Compatible with other items of
protective equipment;
■ Fits the user. Face fit testing is
needed for tight-fitting masks;
■ Worn correctly. Anyone using
tight-fitting masks also needs to
be clean-shaven.
Remember: RPE is the last line
of protection. If you are just
relying on RPE you need to be able
to justify your reasons for this.
Other controls
Depending upon the work you are
doing you may have to combine
these measures with other
controls. Think about:
■ Limiting the number of people
near the work;
■ Rotating those doing the task;
■ Enclosing the work to stop dust
escaping. Use sheeting or
temporary screens;
■ General mechanical ventilation
to remove dusty air from the work
www.cnplus.co.uk
TOOL UP TO TACKLE DUST
Mike Mungroosingh, health, safety and environment
leader for Expanded (part of the Laing O’Rourke
Group) is one of those who believes dust has the
potential to be the new asbestos for construction if
not controlled effectively. The effects are
cumulative and delayed. “You don’t know the
danger until it’s too late,” he says.
Mr Mungroosingh started reviewing procedures on
dust in April/June in expectation of the forthcoming
health risk campaigns driven by the HSE on
construction sites. Expanded, better known for
concrete frame construction and design for
manufacturing/assembly solutions, is also involved in
piling, stonemasonry and demolition work.
“We have two main sources of dust – RCS and
wood,” he says. “Two of the main tool operations –
using handheld circular saws and various drilling/
breaking tasks – can both generate levels above the
Workplace Exposure Limit stated by the HSE.”
During the HSE health campaigns over the
summer, Expanded received various unannounced
visits to projects throughout the UK and the initial
Dust: the
legislative
landscape
The key piece of legislation on
site governing dust exposure is
COSHH, which sets out
maximum Workplace Exposure
Limits or WEL for dust – whether
inhalable, referring to the entire
inhalable portion of the dust
through mouth and nose, or
respirable, relating to the
portion of the respirable dust
that can reach the pulmonary
alveoli due to its small particle
size.
As can be seen from the table,
the amounts described are
miniscule. If you imagine a
kilogram bag of sugar is a million
mg, it soon becomes clear that 5
mg is an amount of dust that will
be virtually impossible for the
average site worker to physically
see, let alone measure – and the
RCS respirable limit is a fiftieth of
that, at 0.1 mg.
Thus it is clear that the law
puts the emphasis on workers to
prevent the dust occurring in the
first place – the important thing
will be to ensure that they are:
a) using the best possible
methods to reduce dust and;
www.cnplus.co.uk
feedback from inspectors focused Mr Mungroosingh’s
mind further. “We were doing a small task on one of
our projects that involved drilling five bolt-holes into
the concrete slab and an HSE inspector observed
one of the team sweeping the dust up with a broom,
without controls in place,” he says.
Damping-down and RPE should be routine on a
job like this, he notes, but on this occasion the
operative was sweeping dry dust without a face
mask. “The HSE’s first question was ‘has he received
face-fit testing?’ The answer was ‘yes’ and we could
demonstrate this via our records,” he says.
Dust reduction plan
Mr Mungroosingh realised that this incident could
have been prevented by ensuring that there was no
dust on the floor in the first place, so set about
looking at dust reduction solutions. “We have
invested in various solutions that remove concrete
dust as it is produced, thereby reducing the
secondary risk to others on site, not just those
drilling. Hollow drill pieces and dust extraction
attachments for drills were procured from Hilti, with
both working very well in different environments.”
As a leading framework contractor, Expanded
was able to discuss the dust extraction system for
circular saws with Hilti. The manufacturer went
away with findings highlighted by Expanded and
then delivered a solution on time. “They don’t mess
around,” says Mr Mungroosingh. “We are now
collaborating with them on other solutions.”
In light of the HSE’s focus on dust controls, Mr
Mungroosingh commissioned a consultant to monitor
dust management on Expanded’s sites in the UK. In
doing this, he demonstrated that with additional dust
controls, his employees were consistently monitored
at 50 per cent below the current Workplace Exposure
Limit for dust. “That’s good because the consistency
shows that our approach is effective,” says Mr
Mungroosingh. “But 50 per cent below is only the
start; the industry benchmark is ‘nil or negligible’
likelihood of a serious health effect. This can only be
achieved when all the necessary control measures are
in place and working effectively.”
“It is about
recognising the
hazards and
creating less dust
by whatever means
possible. Now is the
time to take action”
b) that they are properly
protected. For those tasked with
ensuring health and safety on the
site, however, the exposure levels
will be crucial. Summarised in
the table below are the WELs for
different types of dust, over eight
hours, expressed as a
concentration of dust particles in
a volume of air.
The Construction Dust
Partnership stresses in its toolbox
talk that this eight-hour daily
Workplace Exposure Limit
shouldn’t be looked at as a legal
minimum that can be used in
isolation. It says: “Instead it is a
maximum concentration of a
substance that should be found in
the air, averaged over the
reference period, after good
control principles have been
applied.”
As Mr Keen sums up: “It is
about recognising the hazards
and creating less dust by
whatever means possible. Now is
the time to take action.”
“The WEL for silica is the same
as that for arsenic,” the CDP adds.
“Would you want to take that
amount of arsenic daily as a ‘safe’
limit or would you look to put in
good controls first?”
Tool standards
The other key piece of legislation
is a new European standard,
EN 50632, which has been created
specifically for measuring dust
created by power tools in a ‘real
COSHH DUST LIMITS
Dust Type Inhalable Respirable
RCS
Wood
N/A
0.1 mg/m3
5 mg/m3 N/A
world’ situation and the effect of
their on-tool dust extraction,
where appropriate.
This standard, due to come into
force in 2015, is expected to
become a crucial part of the
landscape. HSL ventilation expert
John Saunders says the standard
is welcome: “There can be just as
many problems from using the
wrong tool or the wrong
extraction. There has previously
been no measurement for
extraction, so a lot of the
systems haven’t been tested.
Extraction systems mustn’t
be designed in isolation and
they must be designed for
continual use.
“The standard will allow people
to compare like with like – and it
will enable manufacturers to
compare the effectiveness of on
tool extraction and to design
their tools accordingly.”
The following pages are
intended to show readers the
different ways that dust can be
tackled – and is already being
tackled – on site. But at the same
time we want to highlight how
choosing equipment that is
appropriately designed and using
it properly can have a significant
positive impact on workers’
health and can improve
productivity at the same time.
Take control of dust | 7
Take control of dust
Introducing Mr Dust
A look inside Hilti’s dust research lab in Kaufering, Germany gives an insight into
the investment the manufacturer is putting into the technology of dust extraction
RESEARCH
ANDREW GAVED
The importance of tackling dust
was recognised early by Hilti,
which established its own dust
research department six years ago.
Dust-related activities are led
by Andras Biczo, who was
engaged by the manufacturer to
tackle the issues, after six years in
researching the subject at
university. Along with running
the test programmes for Hilti’s
equipment, one of Mr Biczo’s key
roles has been to collaborate with
other tool manufacturers in the
writing of EN 50632. As a result of
all this, Mr Biczo is one of the
world’s top authorities on
construction dust and tools – it is
no surprise that within Hilti he
goes by the name of Mr Dust.
Mr Biczo says that controlling
dust on site isn’t simply a matter of
focusing on the tool operation, but
also on the dust that has already
been created: “Dust is created
when the base material is broken
by impact, abrasion, crushing, or
grinding,” he says. “But also
through the release of previously
generated dust during operations
such as loading and transporting;
and through recirculation of
previously generated dust by wind
or by the movement of workers
and machinery.”
The second essential to bear in
mind, he says, is that a dusty
worksite does not only risk
disease, it also slows the work in
several ways – at once reducing
visibility and potentially requiring
increased concentration (or
alternatively, reducing
concentration altogether through
constant sneezing). He adds that
this potent combination could
also potentially increase the risk
of injuries. Mr Biczo also offers a
handy aide memoire for dealing
with dust – go for the TOP.
8 | Take control of dust
Hilti’s ‘Mr Dust’ : Andras Biczo
“Dust is created
when the base
material is
broken by impact,
abrasion, crushing,
or grinding”
■ Look for a Technical solution,
ie using equipment methods;
■ If that isn’t appropriate, seek an
Organisational solution, such as
job rotation or halving the work
time, to ensure that the workers
stay under exposure limits;
■ As the final line of defence only,
protect the individual with
Personal Protective Equipment.
Clearly within this protocol,
it is finding the best equipment
solutions that will hold the
key to reduced exposure.
Inside the test chamber
At the heart of Mr Biczo’s
laboratory is the test chamber,
within which the company
performs its dust generation tests.
To meet the terms of EN 50632,
tools have to be tested in a 200
cu m chamber, which is both
temperature-controlled and
humidity-controlled; and the dust
collected using samplers attached
to the operative at three strategic
points – near their airway to
capture inhalable dust, and either
side of the lungs for respirable dust.
The EN standards are so stringent
that the filters used for sampling
need to be weighed in controlled
humidity conditions using a scale
to an accuracy of one-hundredth of
a milligram (0.01 mg).
As a measure of the investment
required, Hilti’s gravimetric
measuring equipment, which
requires calibration every six
months, costs 11,000 euros alone.
EN 50632 requires that the tool
is used for a period of an hour and
the operation repeated three
times, with the average taken of
the three volumes of dust
collected. The new standard is
good news for the industry in that
it will allow tool manufacturers to
have the confidence to publish
their dust credentials against a
universal benchmark.
The goal for end users and
manufacturers alike will be that
the dust generated by their tools
falls below the daily Workplace
www.cnplus.co.uk
Exposure Level, as it will avoid
sites having to rotate workers or
other defensive measures.
Hilti is proud of the fact it has a
range of dedicated extraction
systems designed specifically for
use in conjunction with its drills,
sanders and cut-off saws, and that
these are equally optimised for use
with its M-class vacuum cleaners.
The fundamental for Mr Dust is
that dust extraction simply has to
be a system approach – mixing and
matching different dust extraction
components, taking a vacuum here
and a dust hood there, simply will
not provide the most efficient way
to remove the dust.
System harmony
Safety bodies agree on the
importance of a ‘system’
approach. German safety body BG
BAU said: “The essence in future
will be to prompt the firms only
to use power tool systems
recommended and harmonised
by the manufacturers.”
But Mr Biczo is firmly of the
belief that when it comes to dust
exposure, not all systems are
created equal. Whereas the full
range of Hilti systems – meaning
an integrated system of tool plus
extraction device plus vacuum
cleaner – all meet the eight-hour
Workplace Exposure Limits,
measured to the standards of EN
50632, he says such a description
cannot be applied to every
manufacturer’s equipment.The
graph, right, shows one recent test
result of the Hilti’s diamond cutter
the DCH 300, versus a competitor.
Mr Biczo gives Construction
News a demonstration. He equips
faithful test operative Eberhard
with the appropriate dust
sampling equipment and
respiratory controls and dispatches
him into the test chamber with
firstly a Hilti diamond cutter and
then a well-known competitor.
While both have hoods and their
own integrated extraction systems,
it is soon clear after only ten
minutes that there is a big
difference between the ability of
the systems to remove dust from
the worksite.The Hilti leaves no
discernible dust trace at the
worksite, leaving the cut groove
relatively clean and visible (see
www.cnplus.co.uk
picture below) whereas the
competitor had early signs of dust
around the application area. Mr
Biczo says that this competitor
tool, although it looks to have all
the right kit in all the right places,
did not meet the eight-hour
Workplace Exposure Limit when
tested to EN 50632 standards.
But the next demonstration in
the context of the message to
sites arguably has even more
impact. Mr Biczo instructs his
assistant to remove the extractor
hood from the competitor tool, to
show the risks from a tool
without any on-tool extraction.
The fact that Eberhard first
insists on upgrading his full-fit
face mask to a heavy duty
respirator is perhaps a clue.
Within seconds, he is having to
guide his tool through clouds of
dust. Inside a minute, he has
disappeared completely. The risk
from unprotected dust in a
confined space is thus made very
real to those of us observing (from
the safety of behind a window).
According to Hilti, the impact of
Mr Dust and the research facilities
is equipment better designed for
dust removal,with not only more
types of system than rivals – it
boasts 70 different solutions,
covering 95 per cent of its tool range
(its heaviest breakers are not yet
covered) – but technology designed
to work with the tool, rather than
being a ‘bolt-on’ solution.
Hilti’s range of solutions breaks
down into three areas: integrated
extraction; extraction accessories
for use with its M-Class vacuum
cleaner; and, where accessories
aren’t available, vacuum only.
Hilti’s integrated DRS (Dust
Removal System) has the obvious
advantage of not needing the
additional power consumption or
weight of the vacuum – and it is
cordless.Available for the TE small
drill range, this is a motorised dust
removal system, powered by the
tool’s battery, that can also be used
to ‘hoover’ the hole free of dust.
Because it is a dedicated system, it
is also optimised for the drilling
process, with a robust filter.
Drill down
The next class is the range of
drilling extraction adapters –
which come in a wide variety of
shapes and sizes to match the
equally wide range of drill bits for
combi-hammers.The DRS-Y
system provides for a tube adaptor
for each type of drill bit to ensure
that the optimum amount of dust
is collected – dust exposure is well
below the WEL for both inhalable
and respirable dust.There are
different versions available for
hammer drilling, chiselling – and
“It is finding the
best equipment
solutions that will
hold the key to
reduced exposure”
for the ultimate in dust removal,
Hilti’s innovative hollow drill bit
(see overleaf).
For drilling and chiselling
applications there are additional
advantages to an efficient dust
extraction system beyond health –
a cleaner hole will have obvious
productivity advantages, from the
ability to drill quicker, unimpeded
by debris, to avoiding the need for
post-drilling clean-up. In
applications such as chemical
anchoring, where a clean hole is
essential for the resin to bond, the
installation process is far quicker.
But there is also a key knock-on
effect, certainly as far as the DRS-Y
is concerned, in that the
additional weight of the system
dampens out vibrations, reducing
the hand-arm vibration exposure
by up to 45 per cent.
The company points out that
not every tool on the market has a
dust removal system that is
dedicated to the individual combi
model. At Kaufering, the team
demonstrated a rival system that
depended for its efficiency on
attaching to the wall being
drilled, which presents clear
disadvantages on uneven or
crumbling surfaces.
Arguably the tool system that
most demonstrates the distinction
between models best is Hilti’s
DG 150 grinder. “Many tools’ dust
extraction is not designed for the
tool itself but is an adaption,” says
Business Unit Diamond Systems
product manager diamond drilling
Inserts Steven Bruyndonckx. He
says that some rivals use a bag to
collect the dust, which doesn’t
provide the suction of its version
that connects straight to the
vacuum cleaner. Its hood is
designed to cover the entire
cupwheel and the wheel itself
contains air holes for improved
airflow. It also uses a twist-to-fit
connection, whereas others require
keys and the like.
Take control of dust | 9
Take control of dust
Tools for dust control
The Hilti DRS technology offers an impressive array of solutions designed to minimise risk
Hilti dust expert Andras Biczo
says that the correct type of
vacuum is the fundamental starting point in the war against dust:
“For construction dust, you need
at least an M class with the appropriate filter. An ordinary industrial
cleaner is not good enough and
neither even is a HEPA filter, as it
is not robust enough for silica.”
This view is confirmed by the
HSE, which has the following
guidance on vacuums in its
guidance on on-tool extraction:
■ Choose an H (High) or M
(Medium) class unit. These units
provide effective and reliable
extraction capability and are
fitted with low-flow indicators.
Don’t just use a HEPA filter in a
general commercial vacuum.
Note: An L (Low) class unit is only
suitable for lower-toxicity dusts
such as gypsum in plasterboard.
■ Check that the unit creates and
maintains enough air suction to
cope with the dust that the work
will create (manufacturers/suppliers can advise). It needs to remove
the dust as fast as it is created.
■ Fine dust can quickly clog filters.
Choose units with pre-filters, builtin ‘back-flushing’ filter cleaning
mechanisms or similar devices.
■ Think how often the unit will
need emptying. Check the waste
capacity is right for the work.
Hilti claims its VC 20 and 40 UM
vacuum cleaners have several
features that give it an advantage.
The key move has been to put the
motor and hoses in the top half of
the machine, leaving the bottom
half for the dust.This avoids maintenance problems and provides
easier emptying, as well as allowing the highest possible capacity.
Other features include an automatic filter cleaning function that
uses a brief reversal of the air function, providing a blast of air, rather
than a mechanical shaking action,
10 | Take control of dust
thus avoiding loss of suction.There
is also an audible alarm,which in
conjunction with the electronic
flow metering, alerts the user when
suction is inadequate because of
filter clogging or kinked hoses.
Another key distinction is that
the company also has a cordless
version of the vacuum system,
where the cleaner itself becomes a
battery charging unit for the tool.
The whole dust extraction system
can thus be run without plugs or
generator.
When one of Hilti’s M-Class
vacuums goes into its Tool Service
Centre in Glasgow it is subjected
to a battery of tests to ensure that
the key elements of a properly
functioning filter and appropriate
air flow are in place. For Hilti in
turn, this means the Glasgow
facility having HSErecommended air flow metering,
which itself has to be calibrated at
regular intervals, and on having
an in-house filter testing machine
to ensure the integrity and
performance of the filter media.
On site, some people are not
treating their vacuum cleaners
with the appropriate respect for
something designed to protect
their health at risk in the process.
The vacuum servicing specialists
have plenty of tales of such
behaviour: for instance workers
punching holes in the dust filter
because the suction on the
vacuum had dropped (and thereby
not only stopping it preventing
dust escape, but stopping it
working altogether), or even of
appropriating paper car radiator
filters instead of the more robust
plastic M-class version that
should be fitted.
Given that a filter clogged with
dust will ultimately burn out the
motor, simply cleaning the filter
earlier will improve operating
time, Hilti contends.
Vacuum
■ Compact and easy to handle, empty and transport
■ M class filters with automatic filter cleaning technology
■ Hilti provides airflow calibration and certification to comply with HSE
guidance, along with suction calibration
■ Fibreglass reinforced containers doesn’t dent, preserving capacity
■ Suction hose at the top maximises ultimate tank capacity
■ Designed for wet and dry site conditions
■ Audible alarms to warn if container is full
■ Cordless and integrated power socket versions available
www.cnplus.co.uk
HOW THE SUPPLY CHAIN IS HELPING TO REDUCE DUST
The specialist hirers
HSS Hire
As we all know, the potential
hazards that can arise from dust in
the workplace are a great cause for
concern. Here at HSS, safety comes
first so we continually work with
both customers and manufacturers
alike to stay at the forefront
of product innovation – particularly
where health and safety is
concerned. A united approach has
helped us to develop products that
reduce dust exposure effectively
and we also invest in good
alternative methods like direct
fastening, diamond drilling and
water suppression cutting.
Emma Hoten, group
procurement director
Sawing
The DCH electric
diamond cutter
features:
■ Dust extract system
designed to take the
maximum amount of
dust away from the cut
site by being positioned
ahead of the blade,
rather than above it
One Stop Hire
Drilling/Chiselling/Coring
■ The DRS-Y extraction system uses a
universal extraction fitting, together with
dedicated adaptors for drilling, chiselling or
short coring, to take dust away from the
point of impact
■ Use of DRS-Y claims to reduce inhalable
dust by 98% in chiselling and 99% in drilling
and coring, while reducing respirable dust by
97-99% in the same applications
The ultimate dust solution is
Hilti’s TE-CD or TE-YD hollow
drill bit, which takes the dust
away from the hole the instant
it is generated. This has a
significant effect on
productivity.
The dust created from cutting and
grinding on site has always been a
major problem for our customers.
We always try to keep them advised
of the best solution for each
application, whether that be
suppression or extraction, along
with the appropriate level of
RPE [Respiratory Protection
Equipment]. We also offer various
types of training courses such as
COSHH and Face-fit from our
training division.
We have recently seen a large
increase in demand for M Class dust
extraction for use with the cutting
and grinding equipment. We
recently added 50 of Hilti’s VC
40-UM dust vacuums and expect
this number to increase as we phase
out our L Class fleet, as we have
been impressed with their reliability.
James Brown, safety,
environment & training manager
Speedy
Grinding
The DG 150 grinder is claimed to bear out the Hilti
ethos that a dedicated extraction system design
provides the optimum results.
■ Height-adjustable dust hood
■ Specially designed cupwheels
■ Cupwheels completely covered by the hood
■ Keyless design enables access to edges
www.cnplus.co.uk
We appreciate the issue of dust and
the risk to health it poses – our
award-winning Safety From the
Ground Up campaign includes dust
as one of the four main topics.
Our clients have found the
innovative Hilti products have
offered practical solutions, in
particular the DG 150 diamond
grinder, where the dust removal
hood has provided high performance
and effective dust control.
Wendy Bates, innovation & client
experience director
The specialist contractors
Specialist Cutting Services
Specialist Cutting Services strives to
eliminate health hazards within the
workplace, not only to protect our
employees but also to protect our
clients and their subcontractors, the
general public and the environment.
We were invited to use Hilti’s
combis and angle grinders with dust
extraction systems on
demonstration terms in various
environments including bottling
plants, food factories,
pharmaceutical production areas,
prisons and hospitals.
Our operatives have found that
the Hilti DCG230/300 angle grinders
with extraction units and guards
perform particularly well.
Operatives appreciated factors such
as the vacuums’ filters clearing
themselves automatically. One said:
“We don’t have to bang the filters
against skips to clean them.”
Attachments are robust and click
or push together easily with no need
to use gaffer tape for sealing
ill-fitting hoses.
As a second control measure,
Specialist Cutting Services Limited
has, over the past six months,
worked at making sure its workforce
are 100 per cent compliant on
respiratory products.
Julian Bonner, health and safety
Manager
Mitchellson Group
The health and safety of our
workforce is our top priority, so our
aim is to eliminate construction
dust at source. We trialled the
TE-YD hollow drill bit range and
were so impressed we now stock
and use them – the idea and design
is so simple but so effective.
Individuals using the TE-YD hollow
drill bits like working with them as
they provide increased protection
from the dust and when they drill
holes they don’t need to clean them
out, in effect making their tasks
that little bit easier.
Joe Mitchell, HSQ&E Manager
Take control of dust | 11
Don’t let dust
take your
breath away
Regularly breathing in construction dust can wreck
people’s lives.
The Construction Dust Partnership is working with
organisations across the industry to help protect
workers against the devastating effects of breathing
in construction dust.
www.citb.co.uk/cdp