Laboratories handle fine powders, abrasives, and sensitive instruments. Dust affects results, damages equipment, and can harm health. A layered approach—source capture, controlled room airflow, and disciplined cleaning—keeps risks low without slowing research.

Plan by process, not room

Identify powder handling, weighing, grinding, and sample preparation steps. Separate these from analytical and clean areas. Define which rooms require negative pressure (hazard containment) and which need positive pressure (protection of clean analysis).

Capture at source for powder work

• Use balance enclosures or LEV for weighing; keep sash heights low and avoid rapid arm movements that disturb capture.
• Enclose mills and grinders; fit extraction ports and interlocks where available.
• Minimise open transfers: pre-weigh aliquots, use funnels, and keep container lips clean.

Air control and filtration

Ensure supply and extract maintain the intended pressure relationships during busy periods, not just at commissioning. Select HEPA H14 for fine particulate; verify airflow under load and document filter changes. In multi-use labs, add portable air scrubbers to buffer peaks from short, dusty tasks.

Housekeeping that protects results

• Clean bench surfaces with HEPA-filtered vacuums followed by damp wiping; avoid dry wipes that re‑aerosolise dust.
• Use antistatic accessories where powders cling.
• Store powders in closed, labelled containers and dedicate tools to powder areas.

Training, permits, and checks

Integrate dust control into method statements and permits-to-work. Train on LEV use, simple smoke tests to confirm capture, and RPE where required. Maintain logs of particle trends from air quality meters to spot drift before it affects results.

Practical takeaways

• Isolate powder handling from clean analysis areas.
• Use balance enclosures and LEV; keep sashes low.
• Verify H14 filtration and room pressures under real load.
• Clean with HEPA vacuums, then damp-wipe; avoid dry wipes.
• Trend particles and maintain simple, usable SOPs.

Consistent, lightweight controls embedded in routine lab practice keep air clean, protect equipment, and support reproducible results.