Demolition Dust Control

Demolition generates massive quantities of airborne dust containing silica, concrete, wood, and asbestos fibres.
Dust plumes from demolition travel hundreds of metres, affecting workers, neighbours, and the public.
Respirable crystalline silica in demolition dust causes silicosis and lung cancer with repeated exposure.
Water suppression is the primary control — continuous spraying of the demolition face reduces dust significantly.
Dust monitoring at the site boundary may be required by the local authority under planning conditions.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 classifies dust as a statutory nuisance if it affects neighbours.
COSHH 2002 requires employers to assess and control worker exposure to hazardous demolition dust.
Dust screens, sheeting, and enclosures can contain dust at source during internal demolition work.
RPE must be provided as an additional control — it does not replace engineering dust suppression.
Asbestos must be fully removed before any demolition begins to prevent uncontrolled fibre release.

Health protection	Silica dust from demolition causes fatal lung diseases including cancer and silicosis.
Public nuisance	Dust affecting neighbours triggers enforcement action and project stop notices.
Legal compliance	COSHH and environmental regulations require demolition dust to be controlled at source.
Asbestos danger	Demolishing structures with asbestos in place creates widespread fibre contamination.

Do

Don't

Apply continuous water suppression to the demolition face during all breaking work.
Confirm all asbestos has been removed before any demolition activity begins.
Erect dust screens and sheeting around the demolition area where practical.
Monitor dust levels at the site boundary if required by planning conditions.
Provide RPE with a minimum APF of 20 to all workers in the demolition zone.
Damp down haul routes and rubble stockpiles to prevent secondary dust generation.
Brief neighbours and the community before major demolition phases begin.
Carry out a COSHH assessment specific to the dust hazards of the demolition.
Stop demolition work in high winds that carry dust beyond the site boundary.
Clean vehicles leaving the site to prevent spreading dust onto public roads.

DON'T demolish any structure before asbestos has been surveyed and removed.
DON'T carry out demolition without water suppression operating at the work face.
DON'T allow dust plumes to leave the site boundary and affect the public.
DON'T rely on RPE alone — engineering controls must be applied first.
DON'T continue demolition in high winds that spread dust beyond the site.
DON'T dry sweep demolition rubble — use damping or vacuum methods.
DON'T ignore dust monitoring results that exceed the agreed action levels.
DON'T allow uncovered rubble stockpiles to generate dust in windy conditions.
DON'T skip the COSHH assessment because the work is outdoors.
DON'T ignore complaints about dust from neighbours — investigate and act promptly.

See also: Construction Dust Awareness | Dust and Noise Control in Demolition

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