November 28, 2023 A Guide to Dust Monitoring

Air pollution is a big issue but when we think about it we can fall into the trap of believing that it simply refers to exhaust fumes.

Dust is a major contributor to air pollution, especially in the workplace, which has meant that dust monitoring is more important than ever before. A build up of dust in the working atmosphere can lead to some terrifying consequences where the health of employees is being greatly compromised.

By using a ambient dust monitor, employers can monitor the atmosphere around their workers, make changes as soon as they are needed and keep everyone in that environment as safe as possible.

Why is dust monitoring important?

Dust is created in a wide number of industries, which means that air pollution in the workplace is becoming widespread. In fact, it is becoming such a problem that many are now calling for it to be identified as a risk factor on its own. When this happens, it means that greater steps can be taken in relation to particle monitoring and workers can be kept safer and free from illness.

Mike Lloyd, the Managing Director at CEM Solutions who offer ambient dust monitoring products commented, “Dust can be made up of many different substances which are then carried through the air and breathed in by the people in that space. The size of the particle determines whether it becomes trapped in the nose, mouth and throat or whether it is capable of travelling as far as the lungs. This can lead to a variety of health problems from allergies and asthma to lung disease and so it can be considered to be a huge risk to health and safety.”

The symptoms and problems associated with dust can become even worse depending on the levels of exposure that a person is subjected to and the type of dust that they have come into contact with. It has been found that PM10 dust can worsen any pre-existing cardiovascular or respiratory disease, as well as decreasing lung function and aggravating asthma.

Dust can come from a number of different industrial activities including drilling, mining, blasting, diesel emissions, pollens, fires and soil. This means that it can contain all kinds of materials, including metals, that are then being inhaled.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that around 7 million people die each year from exposure to fine particles, which has led to the inhalation of hazardous particulate matter. It is therefore important to understand what the levels of dust are in an area, in order to determine whether it is safe for people to work and how long they should be working for.

How does dust monitoring work?

Dust monitoring systems have been developed in order to detect and assess the particulate matter in the air. The particulate matter is a combination of liquid droplets and solid particles in the air, and these are monitored by both size and concentration. If it is deemed to be excessive, then measures can be taken to improve the air quality or reduce the risk of inhalation.

Dust monitoring should take place in any environment where they may be a build up of particulate matter, but this is particularly important in the agriculture, construction, manufacturing and transportation industries, as they currently produce the greatest risk.

There are different ways to monitor the levels of dust in the air, but one of the most common methods is to use an air sample. There are other methods available, but the one that you choose will largely depend on the information that you want to gather, who is performing the test, the costs involved and the type of dust that is being monitored. A dust monitor can have sensors which continually monitor dust levels and processes the data that it receives. This allows for detailed analysis to help understand the levels of dust n the atmosphere and to identify any patterns. This is all connected to a data display which can then issue warnings and can help to control dust levels if the upper limits are reached. This can allow for real time monitoring and evaluation in areas where there are continual risks to ensure that it never peaks above the safe recognised limits.

Ideally, dust levels should be monitored at least once a month, but this will depend on what you are doing, the materials that you are handling and what the environment is like. You should aim to test at different times of the day and during different seasons to get a much fuller picture of what is happening and what other factors might be affecting dust levels.

Dust monitoring is one thing, but it is useless if you do not intend to do anything about it, so you also need to ensure that you have a plan in place to deal with any problems that might arise.

Dust control options

There are systems that can help to control the levels of dust in certain environments by pulling polluted air through fine filters to trap the dust and the air is cleaned. It may also be possible to use a dust wall, which can partition off sections of a room into smaller areas in order to try and prevent particles from spreading.

It is also important to look at PPE clothing such as masks to help prevent people from breathing in the dust when they are around it, and providing showers to ensure that it can be removed from the skin, clothes, hair and airways as soon as possible.

Dust might sound like something that isn’t particularly scary, but for those who work in dust filled environments, it can be the cause of some severe illnesses and even death. All employers have a duty of care to keep their staff safe, and so they need to ensure that the atmosphere in high-risk areas is continually monitored for unsafe levels in order for remedial action to be taken quickly and effectively.

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