Concrete Saw - Dust Control

Dust Control

Stones, rocks, sands and clays can contain large amounts of crystalline silica and are used to make kerbs, flags, bricks, tiles and concrete. Cutting these materials produces airborne dust containing very fine respirable crystalline silica (RCS) particles. These particles are small and it is not always possible to see the RCS dust in normal lighting.

Serious health effects, such as lung cancer or silicosis, can result from exposure to RCS. This is because fine RCS particles can penetrate deep into the lungs.

There are following ways to reduce or control the dust:

1. Wet cutting with adequate water supply.
2. If possible, use diamond saw blades instead of abrasive wheels to cut. Diamond saw blades normally cut more quickly than abrasive wheels, and need less water.
3. The concrete saw should have a local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system, which can capture the majority of dust emitted during the cutting operation.
4. When operating, the operator should always wear the personal protective equipment.

There are some other risks during the cutting process which will also need to be controlled to protect the operator and the passers-by, for example, noise, flying debris, hand-arm vibration, manual handling, electricity and refueling.