Dust in Construction

The whitepaper highlights the outstanding work carried out in the construction industry, the hazards that are too often part of everyday life for those who work within it, and the commitment by Milwaukee to set industry standards.

Dust is responsible for a large number of the non-asbestos lung diseases including cancer, silicosis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Every year in Great Britain over 500 construction workers are believed to die from lung cancer caused by silica dust alone.

Dust is produced during many routine construction tasks, which is why exposure remains a widespread issue across the industry. Inhalable dust refers to airborne dust particles that can be breathed in through the nose or mouth. Respirable dust consists of much smaller particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, where they may pose a greater risk of certain serious lung diseases. Both inhalable and respirable dust can present health hazards depending on the type of dust and the level and duration of exposure.

Despite the risks, awareness remains relatively low. According to a CITB Construction Dust Industry Survey, more than half of UK health and safety professionals (56.6%) reported that they felt construction workers had little or no understanding of the health risks associated with construction dust.

Construction dust poses a serious but often underestimated risk, with exposure linked to a range of long-term respiratory diseases and health conditions.

Across Europe, workplace exposure to dust, fumes, gases and smoke remains a significant occupational health concern. These airborne hazards have been linked to a range of serious respiratory conditions, including occupational asthma, COPD and certain cancers. Despite this, awareness gaps still exist across the industry. In the UK, the impact remains significant, with thousands of deaths from lung disease each year linked to past workplace exposures.

In some cases, symptoms can take decades to develop, making early prevention and awareness essential.

One of the most hazardous types of construction dust is respirable crystalline silica (RCS), often referred to simply as silica dust. Silica dust is released when working with concrete, brick, mortar and sandstone. Its microscopic particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause serious long-term health conditions, including silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

Workers may also be exposed to wood dust. This is produced when working with materials such as timber, MDF and plywood. Regular exposure can affect respiratory health, while hardwood dust has also been linked to certain types of cancer.

Compared to sandstone and concrete, lower-toxicity dusts are generated when working with materials like plasterboard, limestone and marble. Although these dusts contain little or no silica, they can still irritate the airways and have a negative impact on respiratory health over time.

Across Europe, guidance on dust exposure is largely consistent, with employers responsible for managing and reducing risks. While some countries have introduced additional research and legislation, the overall approach remains similar, focusing on protecting workers from harmful dust exposure.

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations in the UK, employers must take steps to protect workers from hazardous construction dust and other substances. This involves following an 'Assess, Control and Review' approach, which includes identifying dust risks, eliminating or suppressing dust generation where possible, and regularly reviewing the effectiveness of control measures.

Designers have a responsibility too. Under the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM) 2015, wherever possible, designers must consider ways to eliminate or control foreseeable risks from dust-generating activities during the planning and design stages of a project.

Germany has introduced several initiatives to reduce dust released by the operation of machines and devices. France's occupational safety and health institute, INRS, explored alternative testing methods for measuring dust emissions from handheld power tools. The proposed approach sought to enable tools to be classified according to their dust emissions for comparable tasks, helping users and employers make more informed choices when selecting equipment.

Employers and designers remain largely responsible for identifying, managing and reducing dust risks on construction sites. To support these efforts, the European Power Tool Association (EPTA) has introduced testing standards to assess dust emissions produced by power tools.

At the same time, growing awareness of the health risks associated with silica dust is driving innovation across the industry. Manufacturers are increasingly developing advanced dust-control solutions to help reduce exposure to harmful airborne particles, improve worker safety and meet evolving industry expectations.

A case study involving Willmott Dixon and Milwaukee Tool found that on-tool dust extraction systems reduced wood and silica dust exposure to levels up to 10% and 20% below HSE limits. The results supported the use of certain tools without respiratory protective equipment (RPE) for some applications. This demonstrates the effectiveness of modern dust-control technology in improving worker safety.