Service bays and rental centres accumulate mixed dusts from customer equipment: silica from masonry, wood dust, metal fines, and potentially lead from old coatings. Without controls, cleaning and testing tools can exceed safe airborne levels and spread contamination across benches and stores.

Map tasks and dust sources

List routine activities: stripping casings, brushing motors, grinding, PAT testing, and blowing out housings. Identify which create airborne dust and where residues settle. Separate reception, inspection, and clean/repair zones to contain contamination.

Capture at source during cleaning and repair

Use LEV or downdraft capture where tools are dismantled and cleaned. A compact downdraft unit such as the MAXVAC Benchvac can provide local capture while brushing or blowing residues from tools. Fit tool shrouds when test-cutting or grinding and prefer wet methods where safe. Avoid compressed air unless within an enclosure under extraction.

Control airborne dust and keep the bay clean

• Provide room air filtration or LEV canopy where multiple benches operate; verify airflow under load to avoid false assurance.
• Vacuum residues with H-class industrial vacuums; never sweep.
• Double-bag collected dust and label as per waste type; keep sealed bins at point of use.
• Service extraction, check seals, and record filter changes.

Compliance context that matters

Under HSE EH40, the WEL for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is 0.1 mg/m³ (8‑hr TWA). Wood dusts have low limits too. Treat unknown dusts conservatively, and document your COSHH assessment covering tasks, controls, and RPE. Fit-test wearers of tight-fitting RPE and keep records.

Practical takeaways

• Segregate dirty reception from clean repair and storage.
• Use downdraft or LEV capture for disassembly and cleaning.
• Run room filtration and verify capture with simple smoke tests.
• Clean with H-class vacuums; avoid compressed air unless enclosed.
• Record WELs, training, and fit testing under COSHH.

A clean, ventilated workflow protects staff, equipment, and customers, while reducing time spent re-cleaning tools and benches.