Monitoring dust isn't just a box ticking exercise for health and safety compliance; it's a crucial component when it comes to safeguarding your company’s bottom line and your long-term health and well-being, as well as workers who rely on you.
If workplace dust is left unchecked, it can wreak havoc on the lives of those it touches, as well as your business and reputation.
In this blog, we’ll be looking at four different ways that workplace dust can cause harm, both in the shorter and longer term. Some of the ways might surprise you...
Short-Term Issues
1. Breathing Concerns and Skin Discomfort
One of the most noticeable immediate effects of workplace dust exposure is respiratory discomfort.
Fine particles suspended in the air can be easily inhaled, leading to irritation of the respiratory tract, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Alongside this, it’s common for workplace dust exposure to cause skin irritation and allergies. Additionally, certain types of dust, such as wood dust or latex dust, can trigger allergic reactions in susceptible individuals, leading to symptoms ranging from mild itching to severe dermatitis.
2. Fire and Explosion Risks
In addition to posing health risks, certain types of workplace dust can also create fire and explosion hazards.
Combustible dust, such as wood dust, coal dust, and metal dust, can accumulate in work areas and ignite under the right conditions, leading to catastrophic fires and explosions.
Fine particles of combustible dust can become airborne during processes such as cutting, grinding, or sanding, creating a volatile atmosphere that can be ignited by sparks, heat, or even electrical equipment.
3. Product Contamination
Dust settling on products or raw materials within a workplace environment might seem harmless at first glance. However, dust particles, especially those generated from industrial processes, can compromise the quality, safety, and integrity of products or raw materials when they settle.
As the dust absorbs moisture from the air, it could create the perfect environment for mould growth and corrosion. This can result in malfunctioning equipment, reduced product lifespan, and ultimately, financial losses for the company due to the need for replacements or repairs.
Customer complaints resulting from damaged products can also affect your reputation – negative feedback, whether shared on social media platforms, review websites, or through word-of-mouth, can impact future sales.
Long-Term Issues
4. Permanent Damage to Respiratory Health
Prolonged exposure to airborne dust – especially to dangerous dust such as silica – can lead to more severe conditions such as COPD, asthma, lung cancer, and silicosis – a debilitating lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica particles.
Silica dust, commonly found in industries such as construction, mining, and manufacturing, poses a significant respiratory hazard. When workers cut, grind, or drill materials containing silica, such as concrete, stone, or brick, they generate fine dust particles that, when inhaled, can cause irreversible damage to the lungs over time.
According to 2022/2023 statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 12,000 people in the UK die from lung disease each year estimated to be linked to past exposures at work. Alongside this, there are currently 1.8 million workers in Britain suffering from work-related ill health.
But the true cost extends far beyond numbers and figures - each case represents a worker whose health and livelihood are forever impacted by their time at work exposed to hazardous substances.
Get in Touch
We hope you’ve found this blog helpful. If you have any questions about anything we’ve mentioned in this blog or you would like advice on any of our products, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team of experts.
You can do this by selecting the ‘Chat with Us’ button in the bottom right corner of your screen, giving us a call on 0800 980 0105, dropping us an email at sales@dustarrest.com, or accessing our contact form here.
