Dust can be hazardous to our health. Dust can contain a range of materials including sand, dirt, pollen, minerals, wood, micro-organisms, and vehicle and industrial exhausts.
Common Work Activities That Create Dust
Dust exposure is likely to occur in the following work activities:
- filling bags or emptying them into skips or other containers
- cutting materials (e.g. example paving stones)
- sieving and screening operations
- conveying materials by mechanical means or by hand
- crushing and grading
- milling, grinding, sanding down or other similar operations
- cleaning and maintenance work
- clearing up spillages.
The Importance of Dust Particle Size
Dust (created or released by work processes or activities) is made up of particles that range in size from relatively large to very small. Large particles fall to the ground quickly and are generally too large to be breathed in.
Smaller dust particles can stay airborne for a significant amount of time and can be classified into two groups:
- Inhalable dust (smaller than 100 micrometres (µm)) – visible dust which can affect your upper respiratory system (the nose, mouth, throat or upper respiratory tract).
- Respirable dust (smaller than 10 µm) – these dust particles are so small that they are invisible under normal lighting conditions. Their extremely small size also means they can be breathed deep into your lungs and lead to lung damage.
Health Effects of Dust Exposure
Exposure to any dust in excessive amounts can lead to health problems. The size of the dust particles, what they are made of, and how much is in the air all affects how hazardous the dust can be.
The harmful effects of dust can vary, from skin irritation to lung cancer.
Dust may not be an obvious hazard because the particles are often invisible and the health effects of exposure can take years to develop.
Types of Dust Exposure
- Inhalation
- Skin contact
- Eye contact
- Ingestion
How Breathing in Dust Affects Health
- Pneumoconiosis
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Asthma
- Extrinsic Allergic Alveolite (EAA)
- Fibrosing Alveolitis
- Cancers
- Heart Disease
- Other problems due to you becoming more vulnerable from high exposure levels
Learn More About Hazardous Dust
Take a look at this article for more information – Hazardous dusts | WorkSafe.qld.gov.au