Healthcare and laboratory environments demand cleaner air than typical workplaces, yet fine dust from powders, sample prep, maintenance and foot traffic still builds quickly. Beyond respiratory risk, dust threatens sterility, data integrity and equipment reliability. A practical, layered approach keeps exposures low and processes reliable.

Where dust originates

Common sources include decanting or weighing powders, plaster and dental work, packaging breakdown, ceiling void access, floor sanding during maintenance and trolley movement. The most problematic fractions are PM2.5 and PM1, which stay airborne, travel far and settle on critical surfaces.

Layered controls that work

1) Capture at source

• Use closed transfer, weighing enclosures or LEV at benches. Keep pour heights low and work slowly to minimise pluming.
• Seal bags before moving; use antistatic liners and lidded containers. For small patching or drilling, choose tools with shrouds and extraction.
• Prefer damp methods for plaster and dental trimming where compatible with the process.

2) Capture in the air

• Maintain appropriate pressure regimes: negative for isolation/dirty zones, positive for clean rooms.
• Deploy portable air scrubbers with H14 filtration during short works or changeovers. Position to pull airborne particulate away from clean areas and check airflow under load, not free-air figures.
• For small partitioned areas, a temporary negative air setup limits migration during maintenance.

3) Capture on surfaces

• Avoid sweeping and compressed air. Use industrial vacuums with high-efficiency filtration; bag and seal waste immediately.
• Adopt microfibre damp wiping for benches and equipment housings; clean high ledges and cable trays on a schedule.

Monitoring and validation

Spot-check with a particulate monitor to confirm controls are effective, and record readings against COSHH assessments. Simple smoke tests help visualise airflow direction at doors and hatches. Service LEV and filtration on time; pressure and flow changes often indicate loading or leaks.

Practical takeaways

• Plan dusty tasks out of hours and isolate the area with airflow moving from clean to dirty zones.
• Use LEV or enclosed weighing for powders; keep pour heights and speeds low.
• Run H14 air scrubbers during short works; site them to create a one-way air path.
• Vacuum, do not sweep; use microfibre for final wipe-downs.
• Verify with a PM meter and keep brief records for COSHH.

With disciplined source control, H14 air filtration and no-sweep housekeeping, healthcare and lab teams can protect people and processes while reducing rework and clean-down time.