There are many risks on a construction site. One of them is dust, which can cause a lot of damage to anyone’s lungs—but especially someone who works on a construction site and experiences consistent exposure to it. The dust that spreads during a construction project is respirable crystalline silica. This is why there are various methods to reduce the amount of wind that occurs on a site, so dust doesn’t spread, such as temporary barriers to block the wind. Using water as an engineering control for dust suppression is another effective method—learn more about it below.
Cut-off Saws
A popular method for dust suppression with water is to operate a cut-off saw. When cutting through masonry, workers will apply water to the saw to control the dust. The water for the cut-off saw will typically come from a hose or a portable pressurized tank.
Jackhammer
For Jackhammer use, there is also a method for using water as an engineering control dust suppression. On jackhammers, a water-spray attachment allows operators to spray a low amount of moisture and reduce dust exposure.
Water Truck
Another way construction sites take advantage of water to control dust is by using a water truck. Essentially, a heavy-duty truck will drive around a construction site and spray water on roads, stockpiles, and other areas where dust can spread.
Safety
When operating at these pieces of equipment while concrete curb cutting, safety is a top priority, especially when you add water to the mix. As such, you should always wear a mask to completely eliminate the risk of dust entering your lungs.
Dust can cause serious health complications that can cause permanent scarring in the lungs, breathing issues, disability, and potentially result in death. That’s why using methods to prevent the spread of it is so important, and water has proven itself to be a useful tool along with other methods.