They must also eliminate the use of abrasive blasting materials that contain more than one per cent crystalline silica and use dust control methods such as blast cabinets and wet drilling or sawing, it said, adding that the employers must also maintain dust control systems.

The workers must wear disposable or washable protective clothing, take shower and change clothes before leaving the worksite if possible, the circular said, adding there must be a regular monitoring of air to ensure that control systems are working.

Workers must be provided with respirators approved for protection to be used against crystalline silica containing dust when levels can not be kept below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), it said adding the employers must provide medical check-ups to workers exposed to crystalline silica.

Workers must be provided with protective equipment and training materials on the health effects of silica exposure, it added.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a useful resource on controlling dust. In Chapter 3 of the OSHA handbook, it explains why dust should be controlled, the various forms of dust control systems that are available, and how to select the correct one, and how to design a water spray system to limit the spread of dust.

Some reasons why dust should be controlled are to reduce and prevent the chance of dust explosions and fires. Also the reduction of accidents is greater with better visibility of the workplace. Reducing dust will also decrease the wear and tear on equipment and minimize the need for maintenance. For employees, less dust will require less protective gear that is needed as well as reduce the possibility of foul odors, which can have a negative effect on productivity.

There are three basic types of dust control systems that are being utilized today that companies can select from. There are systems that operate using a ventilation system in a building to remove or capture dust particles. There are also wet dust suppression systems at the ground level that use water to dampen the soil or other small particles that make them too heavy to become airborne. Airborne dust can also be thwarted with a water system where a spray can join with the particles causing them to fall to the ground.

There are four major parts to most industrial dust control systems. There is a capturing apparatus at the source of the dust. This is usually an exhaust hood. Attached to this hood is duct work that carries the dust to a dust collector. At the collector, the dust is taken from the air. At the end of the duct work, after the dust is removed from the air, is the fan and motor which is the power behind the airflow.

The main parts of a water spray system include the spray nozzle, a hose that supplies the water, and, of course, the water source. The most important part is the spray nozzle. This is where the spray pattern and velocity of the spray are regulated for a water spray dust control system.

There are steps to reduce the amount of dust and therefore the time it takes to clean up the area. One of these is plastic, tape, staples and 2 by 4′s. Normally putting up this type of barrier is not a one-man job, if you do it alone it takes time, lots and lots of wasted time. The professional knows how important dust free construction is to the homeowner, so they take the time for two or more men to install the barrier. Most home do-it-yourselfers don’t bother, so normally projects create weeks of clean up as the dust settles throughout the house.

Now, there’s a product, which installs easily at the jobsite and blocks the dust from leaving the area. Zipwall dust control  systems include telescoping poles, plastic gripping heads with pads to protect the sealing, skid free discs for under the poles, locks to seal the side and best of all, zippers. That’s right, zippers. Getting in and out of a work area that’s taped up normally means you have to overlap some of the plastic and form a loose seal at the doors, which allows the dust to escape to other parts of the house. The Zipwall system allows you to keep the seal tight, even suck the dust out as you work by putting the hose of an operating vacuum under the plastic and not have one bit of dust go to another area of the house. The professional looking enclosed area and the dust free job site is enough to get the highest praise from even your meticulous client.

Suppose your task is to do a job where the owner has expensive carpeting. Zipwall will prevent the dust but drywall dust seldom comes out of the carpet, so you need to lay a drop cloth all over the room. What if the job goes to a second floor? The drop cloth is dangerous on steps no matter how you tape it, lay boards or make adjustments. There is a product that adheres to the steps, rolls onto the carpet or flooring and creates a safe working environment. CarpetWrap carpet protection is an easy to apply and has a sister product StairWrap. The back has a low tack adhesive to keep it in place without the use of staples or tape. Best of all, there’s no messy residue left behind once it’s removed. You simply roll it up and throw it away, with the dust and dirt still on top. It protects the carpet from hard to remove construction dust and saves hours of cleaning.

If you’re working in an area and need to insure no dust leaves as you do, consider shoe and boot covers. These slide right onto your boot or shoe, have a non-slip sole and protect the floor while you’re working and keeps you from tracking any dust throughout the rest of the house. There are even mats to catch any dust on your feet as you leave the area, again providing more protection for the homeowner.

Whether you’re a home remodeler or professional, using products that create less clean up makes you a popular guy and keeps everyone happy. The professional look that you achieve by taking the extra caution to protect the house is well worth it because of all the referrals you’ll get for future jobs. People, both clients and spouses, are always impressed when they realize that the job was completed in a dust free manner, easy to clean manner.

Ray Blake is co-founder of Blake Products and has several patented and patent pending surface protection products for the construction industry. For more on Zipwall dust control and other surface protection products click on http://www.surfaceprotection.com

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