DUS/General/TBT-DUS-012

Sweeping and Housekeeping (Dust)

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Dry sweeping on construction sites creates airborne dust clouds containing respirable hazards.
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) from concrete, mortar, and stone dust causes silicosis and lung cancer.
COSHH 2002 requires employers to control dust exposure — dry sweeping often breaches workplace exposure limits.
Vacuum cleaning with an H-class (HEPA filtered) industrial vacuum is the preferred dust control method.
Where vacuuming is not practicable, damp sweeping with water suppression reduces airborne dust significantly.
Standard workshop vacuums do not have adequate filtration and simply redistribute fine dust.
Housekeeping activities often generate more dust exposure than the original construction task itself.
Workers involved in regular sweeping and cleaning duties need health surveillance for dust exposure.
Dust accumulation on surfaces, ledges, and equipment re-entrains into the air with vibration or movement.
Good housekeeping reduces overall site dust levels and protects all workers, not just the sweeper.

Lung disease	Inhaling RCS and construction dust causes irreversible conditions including silicosis, COPD, and lung cancer.
Legal duty	COSHH 2002 requires dust exposure to be controlled so far as reasonably practicable — dry sweeping often fails this test.
Site-wide exposure	Poor housekeeping allows dust to accumulate and become airborne repeatedly, exposing all workers in the area.

Don't

DON'T dry sweep construction dust with a standard broom in enclosed areas
DON'T use compressed air to blow dust off surfaces, clothing, or equipment
DON'T use a standard domestic or workshop vacuum — only H-class is adequate
DON'T empty vacuum bags or dust containers in windy or enclosed conditions
DON'T allow dust to accumulate on horizontal surfaces, ledges, and equipment
DON'T carry out sweeping without RPE in areas with silica-containing materials
DON'T sweep near other workers without warning them and allowing them to move
DON'T ignore dust — even if you cannot see particles, respirable dust is present
DON'T dispose of silica-containing dust with general waste without containment
DON'T assume housekeeping is low-risk — it can generate the highest dust exposures

See also: Construction Dust Awareness | Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS)

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