Capture at source means controlling dust at the moment and place it is generated so it never enters the workspace. Done well, it minimises exposure, reduces clean-up, and lowers the reliance on air scrubbers and RPE. The principle is simple: contain, extract and dispose before dust can disperse.

Choose the right interface

• Use task-specific shrouds and guards that fully enclose the emission point on grinders, saws and sanders.
• For drilling and coring, use hollow dust extraction bits or sealed collars that maintain contact with the surface.
• Where suitable, add water suppression to break the dust plume at its source.

Match extraction to the tool

• Pair tools with industrial vacuums of the correct class: M-Class for most wood and mineral dusts; H-Class or H14 filtration where fine or carcinogenic dusts are present.
• Check airflow under load, not free-air figures. Hoses, shrouds and filters add resistance that reduces performance.
• Use antistatic hoses of the correct diameter and keep runs short to maintain capture.

Set-up and technique

• Inspect seals, brushes and gaskets on shrouds; replace if worn to prevent bypass.
• Start extraction before the cut, keep the shroud flush, and use steady feed pressure; avoid lifting the guard mid-cut.
• Use slower cutting speeds where practical; less energy into the cut means less airborne dust.

Maintenance and disposal

• Enable automatic filter cleaning if fitted and empty collection bags before they choke airflow.
• Bag and seal waste at the task; avoid tipping into open bins.
• Verify controls with a quick particulate monitor check when processes or materials change.

Practical takeaways

• Think containment first: a good shroud is half the job.
• Size extraction by under-load performance and dust class, not sticker figures.
• Keep hoses short, antistatic and undamaged to preserve capture.
• Maintain seals and filters; poor maintenance defeats source capture.

Capture at source is the most reliable way to meet HSE expectations and protect workers because it stops dust before it spreads. Everything else is support, not a substitute.