Boatyards and marine workshops face mixed dusts from fibreglass, wood, fillers, antifouling coatings, and occasional welding fume. Work often happens in confined or semi-enclosed spaces, so control needs to be planned and reliable.

Control at source: sanding, cutting, coating removal

Use on-tool extraction for sanding GRP, epoxy fairing compounds, and timber. Choose sander shrouds that seal to the surface and connect to continuous-duty extractors; confirm airflow under load while sanding, not just at idle. Wet-sanding can reduce airborne particulate but requires controlled runoff management. When removing antifouling, work within sheeting or mobile enclosures and use LEV hoods close to the workface to limit spread of copper- and biocide-laden dust.

Airborne control: hull tents and workshops

Create directional airflow so dust moves away from breathing zones towards filtration. In hull tents, set an air scrubber or negative air machine to pull air from stern to bow (or vice versa) and exhaust through high-efficiency filters. Ensure make-up air is planned to avoid recirculating dust. Portable units from providers like MAXVAC are commonly used to keep PM2.5/PM10 stable during extended sanding.

Housekeeping: prevent re-agitation

Ban dry sweeping. Use industrial vacuums with M-Class for general debris and HEPA H13/H14 where fine GRP or coating dust is present. Vacuum decks, bilges, lead-ins, and scaffold boards before they are moved. Bag and seal waste; label where coatings are involved. Clean and change filters on a schedule—performance drops quickly with resin-rich dusts.

Confined spaces and health context

Plan RPE (P3) and fit testing for confined tanks and engine rooms, but prioritise engineering controls first. Many boatyard dusts fall into PM2.5 or smaller; controlling them at source plus air management is more reliable than relying on masks alone. Keep COSHH assessments short and practical; document how LEV and housekeeping will be maintained.

Practical takeaways

• On-tool extraction for GRP and wood; check capture while sanding.
• Use tents/enclosures with directed airflow and filtered exhaust.
• Vacuum-only cleaning; bag and seal coating waste.
• Schedule filter maintenance; resin dust loads filters fast.
• RPE supports, but engineering controls lead.

With targeted source capture, controlled airflow, and disciplined housekeeping, boat repair teams can maintain quality finishes while protecting health and reducing rework.