Concrete dust\u00a0is an inevitable by-product\u00a0of the concrete cutting process. Saws, drills and grinders make their way through concrete creating fine particles of silica. When inhaled, these fine particles can cause irreparable damage\u00a0to the lungs. Preventative measures need to be put in place when undertaking any form of concrete cutting to reduce the risk of long-term health complications.<\/p>\n
Silicon is the second most common element on earth after oxygen. It is contained in most rocks, sand, soil and plaster. Concrete, therefore, contains a good amount of silicon. When silicon is cut, crushed, drilled or ground it can produce silicon dioxide, often known as silica (respirable crystalline silica) better known as concrete dust.<\/p>\n
When silica (concrete dust) is inhaled\u00a0it gets trapped in the lungs as the particles are so\u00a0fine. The trapped particles set off a bit of a chain reaction in the lungs as the body attempts to\u00a0fight off these\u00a0foreign\u00a0deposits of\u00a0dust. Prolonged or intense exposure to concrete dust can cause fibrosis of the lung making breathing difficult, reducing the quality of life and in some cases death.<\/p>\n
There a number of methods to reduce the creation of concrete dust which reduces\u00a0the risk of exposure when working with concrete.<\/p>\n
A specialist dust extractor is fitted to the saw or tool to vacuum up the dust at the point of cutting. It is important to ensure the dust extractor is designed for the tool being used to it can effectively capture all the dust from the cutting surface. The dust is collected in a bag which can be safely disposed of later.<\/p>\n