The hidden dangers of dust: health risks and safety measures

Dust is inescapable. We deal with dust every single day and we usually aren’t even aware of it while it’s happening. In fact, we inhale a whopping 50 billion dust particles every hour! While dust is usually harmless in most day-to-day situations, there are types of dust that can be very scary.  

Some dust has the potential to become extremely hazardous if you’re regularly exposed to them. From construction sites to manufacturing plants, dust can cause a wide range of health complications. With the world becoming better informed about the dangers of dust exposure, we must push for education and improvements across key industries.  

Read on to learn more about workplace dust and how you can create a safer working environment for your employees.  

What is dust and where does it come from?

Dust is made up of small particles of earth or waste matter that can be found in the air or on surfaces. Although dust is virtually everywhere (there’s likely some settled on your bannister right now!) certain industries are prone to higher levels of dust exposure due to the nature of their work.  

Industries with workplaces that are particularly dusty include:  

• Construction
• Mining
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Food and beverage
• Fashion 

Dust is created through activities like sanding, grinding, drilling, cutting, and mixing materials. Dust is categorised into two main types: inorganic dusts and organic dusts.  

Inorganic dusts come from substances like metals, minerals, or stones. These include silica, cement, coal, asbestos, concrete, and talc dust. Organic dusts come from plants or animals and include dusts from wood, grain, flour, and textiles.  

What types of health risks does dust bring?

Inhaling dust, especially over a prolonged period, carries serious health complications. In many cases, dust is deadly. The impact of dust is largely respiratory and cardiovascular but the dangers are far-reaching.  

Immediate effects of dust may include symptoms like irritation to the eye, nose, or throat and allergic reactions. However, the longer-term consequences are much more severe. Some of the most lethal consequences of prolonged dust exposure include: 

• COPD  
• Lung cancer
• Heart disease
• Silicosis
• Asthma
• Pneumoconiosis
• Systemic Toxicity

A study by NASA estimated that exposure to particulate matter, like dust, contributed to 2.89 million premature deaths in 2019. Out of these deaths, there were:  

• 1.19 million from heart disease  
• 1.01 million from stroke  
• 287,000 from COPD  
• 230,000 from lower respiratory infections  
• 166,000 from lung cancer  

In addition to the above, dust can also cause explosions. When dust is dispersed in the air and reaches a critical concentration, it can ignite from a spark or flame, leading to disastrous fires. There have been a concerning amount of these throughout history.  

What is being done to help control dust within the workplace? In the UK, there are various safety standards, regulations, and best practices to try and help reduce the dangers to workers from dust.  

• The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 compels employers to guarantee that any substances used within the workplace are not detrimental to workers. Employers are also required to tell their employees about health risks and keep them updated on their safety.
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 urges employers to avoid or minimise exposure to dangerous substances at workplaces. Furthermore, employers must identify hazardous materials, assess exposures, and implement suitable measures that safeguard the well-being of workers. Check out our Ultimate Guide to COSHH Management to learn more about your responsibilities as an employer.
• Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 necessitates employers towards managing asbestos exposure, performing risk assessments and ensuring safe removal and disposal of asbestos materials. These regulations are important as each year over 5,000 people die from asbestos-related diseases in the UK.
• Every year over 500 construction workers in the UK die as a result of lung cancer caused by silica dust. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) 2015, aim at improving health and safety standards within the construction industry through proper planning, management, and coordination throughout the project life cycle.

What precautions should be taken to curb problems associated with dust?

Not installing proper controls for dust can impact your workers’ health and hurt your business in a big way. For example, Esken Renewables Limited was fined £160,000 last spring after it failed to effectively control wood dust that may lead to diseases such as asthma and cancer.  

Here are some of the best practices for minimising workers’ exposure to dust in your workplace:  

1. Where possible, remove dusty materials or replace them with less dusty ones.
2. Put dusty operations into separate areas by enclosing them, automating them, using barriers or implementing ventilation systems.
3. Implement procedures and employee scheduling to help reduce dust levels and prolonged exposure to dust.
4. Issue appropriate protective clothing and PPE that minimises dust exposure.
5. Provide convenient washing facilities for the removal of dirt from employees before they leave their places of work.
6. Schedule regular cleaning of equipment and buildings.
7. Educate staff on the dangers of dust and the risks any given task carries. Make sure they’re fully trained to complete control measures correctly.
8. Create an emergency plan for situations involving spills or other similar incidents related to dust particles or substances.
9. Be vigilant– monitor your processes closely so that you understand what is happening and can take steps to improve it. Encourage workers to provide feedback so you can make any necessary improvements.
10. Record critical movements. We would recommend the use of EcoOnline reporting tools to follow up and enhance dust control measures.

If you want to know more about dust exposure hazards and how they’re being minimised in industries today, join our next webinar, Are you safe from Dust? Uncover health risks, regulations and solutions.