Dust control enquiries on the rise

Dust extraction specialist Dustcontrol UK has reported a rise in enquiries from London-based construction companies expressing concern about a lack of compliance with UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines.

It said the contractors were looking for guidance on the introduction of mandatory Supplementary Planning Guidance revealed by the Mayor of London, which aimed to reduce the impact of construction and demolition dust.

The HSE has also launched an awareness campaign about dust control requirements, and Dustcontrol UK said companies were now looking for information on the best control measures to implement in order to meet the required air quality standards, according to Dustcontrol UK.

James Miller, Dustcontrol UK general manager, explained, “The HSE has worked hard recently to try and broaden awareness of dust control regulations. On top of this, the Mayor of London has recently released details that outline the plan to reduce air pollution and combat dust issues in the capital.

“This appears to have caused many construction firms to wake up to dust related problems. The side effects of dust inhalation are potentially very serious and it’s certainly a good thing that decision makers in the construction and demolition industries are becoming more aware of the need to implement measures that help to reduce its impact, not just for site workers but also on the wider community.”

The Dustcontrol UK range of mobile dust extractors includes the DC 1800, the DC 2900, the DC AirCube 500, and the DC AirCube 2000, which were designed for onsite mobile dust extraction.

The DC 1800 and the DC 2900 have been designed to work with handheld power tools and small table saws, while the AirCube models are used in conjunction with on-tool extraction to prevent dust migration.