Dust risk is not static. Processes change, materials vary, tooling wears, and people rotate. An annual review of dust management keeps controls aligned with real-world work, protects health, and prevents compliance drift. It also reduces unplanned downtime by catching problems early.

What actually changes in a year

Walk the job. Note new or higher-intensity tasks, different abrasives, new subcontractors, and layout shifts. Check maintenance records, near-miss reports, and any air monitoring trends. Seasonal changes and temporary enclosures often alter airflow and raise dust levels.

Use a simple structure: prevent, control, clean

1) Capture at source

• Observe the dustiest tasks for 10–15 minutes each. Verify on-tool extraction is fitted, sealed, and used.
• Confirm shrouds are intact and compatible with the tool. Replace missing brushes and cracked housings.
• Review cutting speeds and consumables; slower passes and sharper blades often reduce dust generation.
• Use water suppression where appropriate and ensure water delivery is consistent, not intermittent.

2) Capture in the air

• Check LEV performance under load. Use pressure readings to confirm the system is pulling as designed, not just on free-air figures.
• Position air scrubbers to create a clear airflow path from dirty to clean. For respirable dusts, use H14 filtration.
• Maintain negative pressure in enclosures and verify with a simple tissue or manometer test.
• If workload fluctuates, modular systems let you add or remove scrubber capacity to match the task volume.

3) Capture on surfaces

• Stop sweeping and compressed air. Use industrial vacuums with appropriate M or H-Class filtration.
• Set a fixed housekeeping schedule tied to task windows, not just end-of-day.
• Store and seal waste promptly to prevent re-agitation.

Measure, document, improve

Log airflow (Pa), under-load capture (m³/h), and particulate readings (PM2.5/PM10). For silica, remember the HSE WEL for RCS is 0.1 mg/m³. Use a particulate monitor to confirm trends before and after controls, then assign actions with owners and dates. Recheck high-risk areas after 30 and 90 days to ensure changes stick.

Practical takeaways

• Schedule a site walk focused on dustiest processes and verify on-tool extraction.
• Test LEV under load and reposition air scrubbers to optimise flow.
• Upgrade to H14 filtration for fine or carcinogenic dusts where required.
• Replace sweeping with industrial vacuuming and a set housekeeping rhythm.
• Measure, record, and follow up; do not rely on assumptions.

An annual review is a small investment that prevents surprises. It keeps your controls matched to the work, demonstrates due diligence under COSHH, and protects people and productivity throughout the year.