Concrete Dust

Renting Concrete Dust Control Equipment

With the high production rates and affordability of diamond tools, more contractors than ever before are cutting, grinding, and coring concrete and masonry materials. Performing these tasks without water generates crystalline silica (quartz) dust. Once breathed in, the dust particles become embedded into the lungs and never leave the body. The smaller the particle, the deeper they penetrate into the lungs.

Silica dust exposure has been associated with COPD, tuberculosis, and lung cancer, the symptoms of which may take many years to appear. Concrete dust is now the "new" asbestos, and in many jurisdictions, the generation of concrete dust is considered a high risk activity that must be controlled and contained. It's not only the operator who is at risk. Area workers are also exposed to the dust that is invisible to the naked eye and remains airborne for hours.

Rental stores can help protect their customers from the effects of silica dust and increase their rental revenues by offering the following:

Vacuums. In vacuums, multiple filters collect concrete dust. Traditional shop vacuums, however, cannot filter out the fine dust and, instead, blow dust back out through the motor when filters clog, usually within minutes.

Two types of vacuum filter systems are employed to collect concrete dust: standard and HEPA. Standard filters remove fine dust down to .5 micron, and in many cases this is all that is required to protect operators and other workers in the area. For additional protection from fine dust particles, workers can wear the proper respirators, which provide another revenue opportunity.

Read More