One of the greatest risks to the health of operators on construction site derives from the dust produced during construction processes. In summer with the sultry climate, it is necessary to act promptly with adequate dust control systems to minimize the dangers.
What is construction site dust, how it is produced and what dangers it generates
On site, demolition and finishing operations, as well as most of the materials used, such as steel when grinding or wood when sanded, produce dust. Other materials are already present in this form, such as gypsum, sand, concrete. For this reason, dust management should not be underestimated (as unfortunately often happens). Dust is really annoying during work as it reduces visibility and requires you to allocate time and equipment to cleaning the areas where it is deposited. In addition, it also damages the operating and measuring instruments, increasing the risk factors in the construction site itself, to the detriment of its safety. If it is composed of toxic or noxious substances and if it comes into contact with the eyes or skin of the operators (and in the case of particularly windy moments, even of the inhabitants of the areas bordering the construction site …) it can cause irritation or burns. Not to mention the particles of such small size (with a diameter between 0.1 and 100 microns) that they can also be inhaled, such as inert dusts, the danger of which goes as far as the risk of compromising respiratory capacity or the development of tumors.
Risk assessment and solutions: dust control systems in the summer
The saying “better to be safe than sorry” is also perfectly suited to construction work and the risk assessment phase must also embrace the risk deriving from the production of dust.
The first step, of course, is to reduce the exposure of operators to dust (even if only by providing adequate areas for the treatment of materials or by supplying materials already treated in a place other than the construction site).
The second step involves adequate controls both from an engineering and an administrative point of view. The solution that solves these two problems is provided by dust control systems. Dust control systems are an immediate as well as ingenious solution for dust management: they are wetting systems for materials or water nebulization, so that the dust particles, weighed down by the action of water, cannot be carried or lifted by any air currents.
In summer, when the hot and poorly ventilated climate could make dust a real unbreathable hood where it becomes impossible to work, it is even more important to set up dust suppression systems, also to lower high temperatures.
Tecnoter dust reduction systems: innovation on the machine
There are different types of dust reduction systems that Tecnoter makes available to its customers, all suited to the specific needs of noise and area to be treated.
The traditional dust suppression systems of the ECO and CUBE series: compact, economical and efficient “cannons” for small and medium-sized areas. They offer great silence and versatility, perfect for reducing dust generated by heaps of material, the treatment of post-crushing aggregates, dust reduction along driveways (roads, tunnels, quarries, etc.) and dust control in closed environments.
Dust control systems on the machine.
They are divided into two categories:
- Systems in the tip arm for excavators, useful in case of
– demolition at height (they reduce the amount of water used, increase the operator’s visibility, block the generation of dust at height which is more carried by the wind
– use of hollow front hammers (they increase the life of the hammer by not allowing dust to enter inside it, damaging the bush and the striking mass)
– use in tunnels (they improve the air quality, reduce the spreading on the ground thus making the environment better for the workers, increase the life of the hammer for the same reason mentioned above) - Dust suppression systems for shovels and skid loaders:
– they nebulize a small amount of water near the wheels or tracks of the operating machine, reducing the generation of dust caused by its transit
– they reduce the spreading and the use of water
– they do not allow water to stagnate in the work area, creating slippery and impractical areas
– they nebulize precisely, with great control over the direction of the water.
But these are just some of the available versions. You can find out more on this page, or you can contact us to ask for more information on Tecnoter dust suppression systems.