Most of us don’t think of major health risks when we think of dust. Nevertheless, dust can be dangerous, and has been associated with several heart and lung issues.
It’s also important to note that dust contamination is an issue of scale. A bit of spare house dust is more annoying than risky. However, certain industries that come in contact with a lot of dust or are especially vulnerable to dust-related conditions practice dust containment.
What kind of industries practice dust containment, though, and how do they do it? We’ll talk more about that in this article. We’ll also try to prepare you for when your business needs dust containment.
Who Needs Dust Containment?
Several industries practice dust containment, though some of the most well-known are hospitals and construction. Hospitals mostly practice dust containment as a precaution. There’s not a lot of dust created in a hospital, but the damage dust can cause makes prevention necessary.
Construction is another matter. Building and renovating structures produces a lot of particles. Many of the materials used in construction release particles when they’re cut or altered.
It’s not just the materials, either. Digging through dirt and concrete and laying the foundation for a building releases a lot of tiny particles into the air. These particles can then get into our airways, our water, and any number of other things we use.
Dust Containment in Practice
Companies have found a number of ways to combat the spread of dust. One of these methods is to build a dust containment enclosure. Dust containment enclosures are man-made structures that usually consist of plastic sheeting spread between metal poles that creates a barrier around the area.
These enclosures capture more than dust. Contractors are exposed to multiple hazardous materials on site, and any of those materials getting away from the construction site can cause serious harm. These include things like paint, solvents and cleaning solutions, and dangerous materials once used in construction such as asbestos and lead.
A dust containment enclosure is just one of the many construction barriers that can be used to block out dust.
Ground Dampening
Another tactic for dust containment is to add water to the ground and certain other substances. This turns the dirt into mud, which makes it denser and less likely to get mixed in with the air.
In other cases, special chemicals are used to absorb dust before it can get lost in the air. These chemicals include substances like magnesium chloride and several organic compounds.
Dust Containment in Modern Industries
Dust containment is an important part of modern industries. Without dust containment practices in place, the particles in dust could contaminate air, water, and other resources. Once out in the world, dust can cause cardio-pulmonary issues and even death in extreme cases.
We’ve talked a bit about how to practice dust containment in your business in the paragraphs above, but there’s always more to learn. You can learn about the various aspects of construction by reading our blog. You can also contact us if you have any additional questions.
