Stop the Dust: Protecting Health in Construction During Health & Safety Month

Q: How can construction sites control dust effectively?

Sites can reduce dust exposure using methods like on-tool extraction, water suppression, appropriate PPE such as FFP3 masks, and regular maintenance of equipment. Good housekeeping and staff training are also key.

Q: Is dust control a legal requirement in the UK?

Yes. Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, UK employers must assess and control risks from construction dust to protect workers’ health.

Ecosafe
13 minutes ago
7 min read

An Ecosafe group worker using a electic drill to screw a nail into a piece of wood

Construction dust is one of the most dangerous hazards. In honour of Health & Safety Month, we call attention to the serious risks associated with silica, wood, and asbestos dust and explain the steps every contractor, housing provider, and property manager must take to control it.

Why is dust control important?

Each year, 12,000 workers in the UK die from lung diseases caused by past exposure at work, many of them from construction-related dust. Professionals believe silica dust exposure kills over 500 construction workers every year, causing permanent disability and early death. - HSE GOV.

Dust is a controllable health hazard that affects voids in the South West, commercial fit-outs in London, and renovation works across Sussex.

What is the dust from a construction site?

An Ecosafe group worker using an electric tool to cut wood. There is dust surrounding him

Construction dust refers to harmful airborne particles found on most building sites. According to HSE, there are three main types:

Silica dust - from cutting or grinding concrete, mortar, and sandstone.
Wood dust - from sanding, sawing or demolishing timber-based materials.
General dust - from materials like gypsum, limestone, marble and plasterboard.

The most dangerous particles are respirable and small enough to penetrate the lungs. Each of these can lead to life-changing lung diseases if inhaled over time, even in small amounts.

How much dust inhalation is too much?

Did you know? The silica dust a worker can safely inhale daily is smaller than a 1p coin! Yet hundreds die from it each year. That is how serious the risk is.

A graphic of a one-pence coin next to a pile of silica dust, a magnified glass zoomed in to the size of the dust that can harm you

What makes the risk of dust higher?

Enclosed work areas - increase dust build-up.
Duration - the longer the task, the higher the exposure.
Repetition - doing the task daily increases the risk significantly.
High-energy tools - like grinders and cut-off saws, as these create more dust faster.

Even outdoor work can be dangerous when using high-powered tools without control measures.

Want to dig deeper? Download the HSE’s complete Construction Dust Guide (CIS36)

What are the long-term effects of construction dust?

Exposure to construction dust can lead to:

Lung cancer
Occupational asthma
Silicosis and lung scarring
Mesothelioma (asbestos-related)
Skin irritation, dermatitis and eye damage
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Symptoms can take years to develop, often showing up long after a project ends. They affect workers, tenants, and anyone exposed.

Construction dust consequences: A life changed by dust exposure

A professional joiner developed occupational asthma after working for a year with undiagnosed symptoms. Although the joiner’s employer had installed dust extraction on woodworking machines, they failed to maintain it properly, leaving him exposed to harmful wood dust every day.

He had a permanent lung condition that limited his ability to play football, limited how he interacted with his children and drastically changed his lifestyle. Even cold air or light exercise now triggers severe wheezing.

An HSE investigation finally led to upgrading the dust controls, but it was too late for him by then. Read the full story here.

What lung disease feels like - in Andy’s words

Our own Health & Safety Manager, Andy, developed breathing problems after years working as a carpenter. Here is how he describes what living with it feels like:

“Imagine trying to walk or exercise while only breathing through a straw; that’s how restricted your lungs feel. That’s what it’s like to live with dust-related lung disease.”

It is a shocking reminder that dust control is a priority.

Andy Bowdidge, Health and Safety Manager at Ecosafe Group

Resident feedback: Respectful, clean and dust-aware

Dust affects not just workers but also the families living in the homes we work in.

One resident told us how grateful she was after our team worked on her property using complete dust control and clean-up measures.

Ecosafe coordinated the work around my family and was sensitive and considerate to us while living around the work. My son has asthma, and they ensured a clean environment with minimal dust. - Tenant

Feedback like this is why we take dust control seriously. Dust control is about doing the right thing for the people who live and breathe in the spaces we improve and meet legal requirements.

Screenshot of a Google review from a tenant about Ecosafe Group

Legal responsibilities for duty holders

Under COSHH 2002, CDM 2015, and the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, employers and contractors must:

Assess and control exposure
Maintain controls and review regularly
Provide PPE, training, and health surveillance
Stay below Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) - 0.1 mg/m³ for respirable crystalline silica (RCS)

Failing to do so can lead to:

Legal action
Site shutdowns
HSE enforcement
Reputational damage

The three key legal steps under COSHH

Assess the risk (e.g. task type, material, tool used)
Control the exposure (e.g. water suppression, extraction)
Review your systems (e.g. maintenance logs, surveillance)

What is the best method of dust control?

1) Eliminate the risk where possible

Replace chasing with clip-on systems
Use prefabricated or prefinished materials
Avoid sanding by using ready-mixed compounds

2) Control dust at the source

Fit water suppression to saws and drills
Segregate dusty work with zip doors or temporary sheeting
Use on-tool extraction with M-class vacuums and HEPA filters

3) Clean as you go

Vacuum using dust-rated equipment
Damp-wipe surfaces; don’t dry sweep
Maintain good ventilation where possible

4) Use the correct PPE

Eye protection, gloves, and full coveralls
Store PPE in sealed containers, not dusty toolboxes
FP3-rated respirators (fit-tested and well-maintained)

When dust control works, exposure reduces

HSE research on demolition sites shows that 75.6% of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) measurements fell below 25% of the legal Workplace Exposure Limit (0.1 mg/m³) when effective control measures were in place, with only one sample exceeding the limit (HSE RR1202 – 2024).

This statistic proves that the proper methods work, but they must be consistently applied, maintained, and checked.

A bar chart showing the rate at which silica dust is reduced after using protective measures

Training, monitoring & management for dust

Filter and equipment maintenance logs.
Toolbox talks to raise awareness of dust risks.
Air monitoring to ensure exposure stays within safe levels.
Lung function tests and skin checks as part of health surveillance.

A real scenario of the costs of getting it wrong

Warmsworth Stone Ltd - Fined £18,000 for dust failures

In 2023, Warmsworth Stone Ltd, a Yorkshire-based stonemasonry business, was fined £18,000 plus £4,064 in costs for not protecting workers from silica dust despite receiving seven HSE improvement notices.

“The company failed to take adequate steps to reduce workers’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica, showing a reckless disregard for workers’ health.” - HSE Inspector

Even smaller contractors can face serious financial and legal consequences for dust-related breaches.

Choosing the right on-tool dust extraction

On-tool extraction is one of the most effective ways to protect workers from harmful dust exposure. These systems work by capturing and removing dust at the source, and consist of four key parts:

The tool - the power tool used (e.g. saw, grinder).
Captor hood - it captures dust the moment tools create it. Choose a design that fits your specific tool and task to ensure maximum control. For example, Small Bench Top Captor Hood (100mm fitting)
Tubing - connects the hood to the extractor. It must fit securely and be the right length and material. For example, AUKTools Power Tool Dust Extraction Hose and Adaptors.
Extraction unit - for example, an industrial hoover. Choose M or H-class extractors, not just HEPA filters in regular vacuums. For example, the Vacmaster WD M38 PCF240V M Class Dust Extractor

Quick tip: Units with automatic filter cleaning and airflow indicators are reliable for long-term use.

Best practice checklist:

Clean and empty the extractor regularly.
Ensure hoods sit close to the work surface.
Use equipment that’s compatible and tested.
Avoid using tape to join tubing; use proper adapters.
Provide weekly inspections and arrange a full service (TExT) every 14 months.

Training is essential. Every member of our team is trained to spot faults, use the system correctly, and know when extra protection like RPE is needed. If you are looking for a reliable builder, please see our building services to book a free survey today!

Take action this Health & Safety Month

Review your RAMS - do they cover dust controls in detail?
Talk to your team - build a culture of accountability and care
Log maintenance and filter checks to keep the equipment effective
Inspect your sites - are extraction kits working, and PPE available?
Schedule refresher training - including face-fit testing and air monitoring

More than dust control: Full-site compliance with Ecosafe

Construction dust is one of many risks our teams help clients manage daily.

At Ecosafe Group, we provide compliance support for housing associations, property developers, and commercial clients across the UK. We respond quickly and reliably in London, the South West, and Sussex.

Our services include:

CDM and RAMS support
Void safety works and hazard removal
Electrical and gas compliance surveys
Social housing refurbishment and handovers
Fire risk assessments and fire door inspections

By embedding safety, cleanliness, and tenant well-being into everything we do, we help you stay compliant and trusted throughout your project.

FAQs: What you need to know about construction dust and safety

What is construction dust and why is it dangerous?

Construction dust includes silica dust, wood dust, and general dust from materials like plasterboard or concrete. Breathing in these fine particles over time can cause serious, long-term health problems, such as asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and silicosis.

How many UK workers are affected by construction dust?

Each year in the UK, over 500 workers are believed to die from silica dust exposure alone. Many more experience life-changing illnesses like occupational asthma and chronic lung disease.

How can construction sites control dust effectively?

Controlling dust starts with the right tools and approach. This includes on-tool extraction systems, water suppression methods, and appropriate PPE (like FFP3 masks). Regular maintenance, good housekeeping, and staff training are also essential.

Is dust control a legal requirement in the UK?

Yes. Under the COSHH Regulations 2002 (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), employers are legally required to assess and control construction dust risks to protect workers’ health.

What is on-tool extraction?

On-tool extraction is a type of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) that removes dust at the source. It uses a fitted captor hood, tubing, and an extraction unit to capture harmful dust before it enters the air. When maintained properly, it’s one of the most effective ways to reduce exposure on site.

0333 939 0161

info@ecosafegroup.co.uk