Choosing dust monitoring equipment is about matching hazards, tasks and environments. The right system gives timely alerts, reliable trends and usable records without getting in the way of work.

Start with your hazard and task

• Silica and mineral dusts: focus on processes like cutting, grinding and chasing; consider both task-area PM and personal exposure.
• Wood dust and fine powders: indoor PM2.5/PM1 response and filtration checks are key.
• Welding fume and mixed aerosols: rapid-response PM with good logging helps manage peaks.

System types and when to use them

• Direct-reading PM monitors: ideal for area trend and alarms; use around workfaces, welfare and boundaries.
• Personal sampling (gravimetric): needed to assess exposure against WELs; typically run by an occupational hygienist.
• Boundary monitors: manage neighbour impact on urban sites; look for robust mounts and weather protection.

Features that matter on site

• Response and range: near real-time readings with PM1/2.5/10 channels.
• Alerts: bright, audible alarms you can see and hear; configurable thresholds.
• Data: onboard logging with easy export; simple dashboards beat complex portals on busy sites.
• Power and protection: battery life to cover shifts; charging options; suitable IP rating and mounts.
• Verification: simple field checks and periodic calibration; keep a short SOP.

Integrate monitoring with control

Use readings to adjust capture at source (LEV and water suppression), airflow in the zone and housekeeping. For fine or carcinogenic dusts, ensure H14 filtration in air scrubbers and vacuums. Consider airflow under load, not free-air figures, and maintain filters to avoid drift.

Trial, verify and maintain

• Run a baseline week to understand normal variation by task and weather.
• Set initial thresholds, test alarm audibility and refine locations.
• Verify strategy quarterly with an occupational hygienist and personal sampling if RCS is possible.
• Assign ownership for charging, calibration and weekly data review.

Practical takeaways

• Pick PM monitors for real-time control; use personal sampling for compliance decisions.
• Prioritise clear alarms, durable hardware and simple data access.
• Link alerts to actions: fix capture, airflow and cleaning before work resumes.
• Document checks and keep a short site SOP for consistency.

A considered selection and a short routine around placement, alerts and upkeep turns monitoring into a daily control tool rather than a box-ticking exercise.