Many sites appear spotless yet still draw dust complaints. The issue is often invisible particles (PM2.5 and smaller) that evade quick visual checks, plus processes that briefly spike emissions. If complaints persist, the solution is rarely more sweeping; it is smarter control across process, air, and housekeeping.

The usual culprits

• Invisible peaks: short cutting, bag tipping, or changeovers that overwhelm control for minutes.
• Recirculation: portable extraction or HVAC moving contaminated air between areas.
• Underperforming LEV: good free-air numbers but poor airflow under load due to filter loading or leaks.
• Housekeeping that re-aerosolises dust: dry sweeping or compressed air.
• Wrong filter class: fine wood dust or RCS passing through low-efficiency stages.

Fix the problem by layer

1) Capture at source

• Use water suppression or tool-mounted extraction on saws, grinders, and sanders.
• Reduce process energy: slower cutting speeds often cut dust by more than the time they add.
• Redesign tasks: pre-cut off-site, use pre-mixed materials, or enclose transfer points.

2) Capture in the air

• Deploy air scrubbers to manage residual airborne particulate. A portable unit from the MAXVAC Dustblockers range is commonly used to stabilise background levels during dusty shifts.
• Create negative air where needed to stop migration into clean zones.
• Confirm airflow under load and maintain seals and ducting.

3) Capture on surfaces

• Replace sweeping with industrial vacuums (M-Class minimum; H-Class for fine/carcinogenic dusts).
• Vacuum high ledges, cable trays, and beams that seed recontamination.
• Set cleaning frequency to production, not to the calendar.

Verify and maintain

• Spot-check with a particulate monitor; investigate any spikes aligned to tasks.
• Inspect filters for loading; log pressure drops and change filters before performance collapses.
• Audit against COSHH and HSE guidance; for RCS, remember the UK WEL is 0.1 mg/m³.

Practical takeaways

• Map sources, flows, and complaints; address transfer paths, not just the “dirty” room.
• Balance controls: source suppression first, then air cleaning, then disciplined vacuuming.
• Measure under-load performance and keep a simple maintenance log for filters and seals.
• Brief teams to avoid sweeping and compressed air; provide the right vacuums and attachments.

A “clean” facility is one where peaks are prevented, background is controlled, and surfaces are kept from re-seeding the air. Do those three things consistently and complaints drop with them.