Construction dust and silica: plan controls around the task

Assess the material, task and exposure

Cutting, drilling, grinding and chasing can create harmful dust. Work involving concrete, mortar or similar silica-containing materials can release respirable crystalline silica. Wood and other construction dusts also need assessment. Do not assume dust is harmless because it is familiar or difficult to see.

Record the material and tool, how long the work lasts, whether it is enclosed and who else is nearby. Include the person collecting waste and the following trade, not only the tool operator. Use the construction COSHH checklist to connect the task to exposure controls.

Control the dust where it is produced

Consider a lower-dust method or avoiding unnecessary cutting first. Where the task remains, select suitable source controls such as water suppression or on-tool extraction, based on the work and the current task-specific guidance. Check that the tool and control equipment are compatible.

• Plan the work area so dust does not spread into occupied premises or other trades.
• Check the extraction connections, collection capacity, filters and maintenance arrangements.
• Where water suppression is used, plan the supply and the resulting slurry.
• Arrange safe cleaning and waste handling; avoid methods that put settled dust back into the air.

For example, a chasing crew may have an extractor but no agreed method for changing collection bags. The work method should cover that task too. Specify the equipment and sequence rather than leaving each operative to invent the disposal arrangements.

Where RPE is needed, make the selection work in practice

Respiratory protective equipment must be suitable for the substance, task, wearer and other equipment. Tight-fitting RPE needs a face-fit test for the selected make, model, type and size, as well as correct use and fit checks. Facial hair can prevent the seal from working; select a suitable alternative where a tight fit cannot be achieved.

Put the practical decisions in the briefing: what equipment is required, who has been fit tested where needed, how it is checked and stored, and when filters or equipment must be changed. Do not use RPE as a reason to neglect practicable source controls.

Check performance during the job

1. Confirm the material and work method still match the assessment.
2. Check guards, hoods, hoses, water supply and collection arrangements before starting.
3. Keep other people out of affected areas and check nearby occupied spaces.
4. Look for damaged equipment, poor capture, blocked filters and unsafe cleaning methods.
5. Stop and investigate a control failure instead of simply finishing the cut.
6. Review maintenance, exposure monitoring and health surveillance requirements with competent advice where applicable.

A clear photograph of the setup can support a review, but cannot demonstrate exposure levels or replace specialist assessment. Agree who checks the system, how defects are reported and what happens when the right equipment is unavailable.

See our RAMS and safe work planning support if the assessment and method need bringing together. Specialist occupational hygiene input may be needed for measurement or complex exposure questions.

Official sources

• HSE: construction dust
• HSE: chasing concrete and raking mortar
• HSE: fit-testing basics

General guidance only. Check the current official sources and your project conditions. Unless stated otherwise, legislation discussed is for Great Britain; Northern Ireland has separate rules. Remote advice supports, but does not replace, competent site management or specialist assessment.