Cutting + grinding materials
Natural construction materials such as wood, stone and other raw materials can generate fine, respirable dust once cut and ground into on construction sites. The use of abrasive wheels, cutters or blades from many handheld and stationary machinery removes material from workpieces, creating hazardous airborne respirable dust.
Demolition + scabbling
Removing layers or entire surfaces during construction processes can pose serious risks for construction workers and other personnel. The use of heavy-machinery and mechanical tools disturb entire surfaces, leading to construction materials being destroyed into smaller, more respirable particulates, posing health concerns.
Mixing raw materials
Mixing in construction often involves combining various raw components such as cement, sand and aggregates. Adding raw materials into the mixer, no matter what is being mixed, both grinds and mixes materials against each other and creates high levels of airborne respirable dust, presenting health risks if not managed correctly.
Using heavy machinery
Using heavy-duty vehicles on construction sites (e.g. the use of bulldozers, cranes, trucks and forklifts) generates high levels of dust. Whilst all these vehicles are involved in building and demolition on construction sites, which in turn generates respirable dust, they also carry large amount of construction materials and settled dust across workplaces, spreading the risk further.
Maintenance + cleaning
When respirable dust is generated on a construction site, it can become settled across workspaces if not properly managed. Poor maintenance and cleaning methods like dry sweeping often makes dormant dust can airborne again. As this dust may have been settled for a while and forgotten about, it’s often not managed effectively.
