Toolbox Talks Dust Dust is a general term for particles of any substance that become suspended in the air. Sometimes the particles are so small they are not visible to the naked eye. Dangers of dust: • any dust can be dangerous if its particles are small enough to stay suspended in the air. • certain dusts cause serious health problems even at low levels (eg some wood dusts may cause can- • control ignition sources such as electrical equipment. Ways of controlling dust: • the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations require effective and suitable ventilation. • design and maintenance of ventilation is crucial to how well it works. • ventilation may be either general room/space ventilation system or a local exhaust ventilation (LEV) targeted at problem areas/processes. • where dust cannot be adequately controlled by other means then personal protective equipment (PPE) can be necessary, eg respirators, breathing apparatus and eye protection. • good housekeeping and cleaning are needed, particularly vacuum cleaning, but this is often not enough on its own – other dust controls are usually needed, eg ventilation. • dusts should never be cleaned using brushes, brooms etc as this makes the dust airborne – special vacuum cleaners with • COSHH risk assessments are needed to analyse hazards of controls. Legislation and resources • Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 • Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 • HSE: EH40/2005 Workplace Exposure Limits. 26 MAY 2016 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY
Cleaning Hygiene Today May 2016
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