Modern Building Services

K eeping commercial and industrial environments running safely and efficiently means navigating a range of issues and dealing with threats on all scales to ‘business as usual’. Even those threats that are smaller in stature can have just as great an impact on productivity and staff wellbeing – and it doesn’t get much smaller than dust. While dust is a major issue in commercial and industrial environments, both for the health of employees and the performance of equipment, it is increasingly unacceptable in today’s high- performance facilities. While physical concerns over product quality and environmental health are hard enough to achieve, 12 MODERN BUILDING SERVICES MAY 2023 By Ira Morris , Country Manager, Dustcontrol UK Why exposure to dust is an issue external COSHH and regulatory requirements only build on the mounting pressure of having to maintain clean and healthy workplaces. Respiratory issues According to the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), exposure to dust can cause respiratory issues such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and even lung cancer. In addition, dust accumulation on machinery and equipment can cause malfunction or breakdown, resulting in costly repairs or replacement and lost productivity. But why is dust such a problem in commercial and industrial environments in the first place? There are a number of factors at play. Firstly, the nature of many commercial and industrial processes such as cutting, grinding, and sanding produce a lot of dust, which can quickly accumulate in the air and on surfaces. Additionally, many commercial and industrial facilities have large open spaces, which can make it difficult to control the spread of dust. Critically for the workforce, inhaling dust can cause a range of breathing problems with the full effects on an individual’s health sometimes taking many years to develop. Adding to the complexity of the issue are the different levels of dust. Inhalable dust is visible to the naked eye and may consist of larger or heavier particles which tend to get trapped in the nose, mouth, throat or upper respiratory tract where they can then cause damage. Respirable dust, however, is fine enough to be invisible to the naked eye and can be breathed deeply into the lungs where the effects can be even more serious. Further risks There are further risks to employee health from swallowing inhaled dust which can get into the digestive tract, leading to gastrointestinal tract irritation or organ and tissue damage if it reaches the bloodstream. Some dust particles can also damage or irritate the eyes, either abrasively or chemically, while dusts such as epoxy resins, rubber processing chemicals, wood dust and fibreglass are a skin irritant and can lead to skin conditions such as dermatitis. With all of this to consider in relation to employee wellbeing alone, effective management of dust and particulate waste is essential in commercial and industrial spaces. There are several types of dust extraction systems suitable for a wide range of production and manufacturing environments, including: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) LEV systems are designed to capture and remove dust at the source, such as from grinding, sanding, or welding. The system comprises a hood or nozzle that captures the dust, a duct that carries it to a central collection point, and a filter or cyclone that separates the dust from the air. Dust Collection Systems Dust collection systems are designed to collect dust from multiple sources, such as in a workshop or manufacturing plant. The system comprises a network of ducts that connect to each machine or area, a central collection point, and a filter or cyclone that separates the dust from the air. Portable Dust Extractors Portable dust extractors are designed to be moved around the workspace to capture dust from different sources. The system comprises a hose or nozzle that captures the dust, a motorised fan FEATURE AIR CONDITIONING, COOLING & VENTILATION