Worksite Silica Dust Control

Protect yourself and others from the effects of silica dust by utilising the latest personal protective equipment to minimise your risk and exposure.

Always ensure espiratory protective equipment is tight fitting and forms a seal against the face.

For users with facial hair consider the use of full face masks with a PAPR system to provide the correct levels of respiratory protection.

When cutting or grinding concrete, please ensure the correct cutting or grinding shroud is paired with the correct extractor to limit exposure.

Likewise when drilling or chiselling, special shrouds are also available to reduce airborne silica dust.

Wet concrete cutting reduces silica dust and improves worker safety.

This method uses water to suppress dust particles that harm workers' health.

The above cutting equipment available at Total Tools has a Wet cutting option as standard, allowing for a safer way to cut without sacricing quality.

M Class vacuum refers to the international standard used for medium risk use.

The filter traps over 99.9% of the dust and particles greater than 0.1 mg/m³.

Use an M class vacuum when cutting into the below materials:

• Pine-wood dust, Grout,
• Plaster, Cement, Paint
• Concrete, Tile adhesive

Note: The processing of certain M-Class materials may generate H-class silcia dust.

An M Class vacuum is also the minimum Australian Standard (Excluding Queensland and ACT when silica content is above 25%) vacuum allowed on a worksite to comply with workplace health and safety guidelines.

H Class vacuum refers to the international standard used for high risk use. The filter must trap at minimum, over 99.995% of the dust and particles less than 0.1 mg/m³.

Use a H class vacuum when cutting the below materials:

• Silica dust (generated when cutting concrete, engineered stone, brick, granite, and/ gravel, ceramics and Morter),
• Hardwood dust, Mold spores,
• Asbestos, Lead dust, Asphalt,
• Synthetic mineral fiber

An H Class vacuum is also the minimum Australian Standard vacuum allowed on a ACT (when silica content is above 25%) and Queensland worksite to comply with workplace health and safety guidelines.

Learn more about DOP testing.