You cannot manage what you do not measure. Reliable dust measurement helps you prove controls work, prioritise hotspots, and demonstrate compliance with HSE expectations under COSHH.

Pick the right measurement approach

• Direct-reading monitors: Light-scattering meters show PM1/PM2.5/PM4/PM10 in real time. Ideal for task tuning and before/after checks.
• Gravimetric sampling: Personal pumps with filters provide mg/m³ results after lab analysis. Essential for substances like RCS when you need compliance-grade data.

Set up for meaningful data

• Define the question: hotspot mapping (static monitor), worker exposure (personal sampler), or control verification (before/during/after).
• Place static sensors at breathing height, away from walls and direct jets from LEV outlets.
• Zero-check and time-sync devices; if available, perform a short bump test.
• Log mg/m³ by task step. Note weather, doors open/closed, and LEV/air scrubber settings.
• Measure under load: run tools and extraction exactly as in real work, not idle.

Interpret against limits

HSE EH40 sets an 8‑hour TWA WEL of 0.1 mg/m³ for respirable crystalline silica. General respirable dust is 4 mg/m³; inhalable is 10 mg/m³. Direct-reading PM data are excellent for trends, but for RCS you need respirable personal sampling and lab analysis to decide compliance.

Make it part of the routine

• Baseline at the start of a project, then recheck after major changes (materials, methods, or weather patterns).
• Use short task samples (e.g., 15–30 minutes) to tune controls, then confirm with longer runs.
• File plots, raw data, photos of monitor placement, and calibration records with COSHH assessments.

Practical takeaways

• Choose PM monitors for rapid feedback; use personal gravimetric sampling for compliance.
• Place sensors at breathing height and measure under load.
• Record tasks and settings so improvements can be repeated.
• Compare to HSE WELs and act when trends rise.

Measure, adjust, confirm, and document. That cycle keeps exposure low and evidence strong.