Keep your work site safe and dust-free.
Maintaining a safe job site for your installers should be a priority, especially when working with concrete. When concrete is ground, dust is created that can be harmful if breathed in or exposed to for long periods of time. You can easily combat this issue before it even occurs, or mitigate exposure if prevention isn’t enough. Concrete dust collection is an important skill to learn when you’re working with grinding concrete.
Grinding concrete is sometimes a necessary step in the renovation of a floor; whether its uneven, or there’s impurities, or any other reason. Allowing dust to spread in your work site’s air without controlling it is not necessary. In this article, we’ll discuss how to prevent the creation of dust and how to handle it when it is created.
Concrete Dust Prevention
There are several ways to prevent the creation of dust when working with concrete. The most effective way is to use a dust shroud with connected dust vacuum. Attach a dust shroud to your concrete grinding machine, connect it to a vacuum and will suck up the dust before it can even get into the air!
If you are not able to use a dust vacuum, you can try to keep the dust down by wetting the concrete. This will cause the dust to stick to the ground and not become airborne. On its own, this is not a safe solution to dust exposure. When paired with other safety protocols like proper ventilation and safety gear, you will at least mitigate your risks.
Recommended Vacuums & Dust Shrouds
For your dust shroud and vacuum attachment needs, it depends on the size of your machinery and the site you’re working on. Depending on your machine, you can use a specialized dust shroud for your prevention needs. We recommend the Dust Grabber Shroud for a good all-purpose dust shroud.
When working with large machines, we recommend using a Dust Control Storm 600 to control your generated dust. For smaller machines and residential / small commercial projects, you can use the Dust Control Tromb 400L.
Concrete Dust Collection
If dust is created, it is important to collect it as quickly as possible. This will help to keep the dust from becoming airborne and causing harm to workers. You can use your dust vacuum to collect the dust, or you can place a tarp or plastic sheeting over the work area to trap the dust until you can properly deal with the exposure.
Dust collection is an important part of working with concrete. By using a dust vacuum or other methods to prevent the dust from becoming airborne, you can keep yourself and your workers safe while working with concrete.
Wearing Appropriate Safety Gear for Concrete Dust Collection
When going through the process concrete dust collection, it is important to wear appropriate safety gear. This includes a dust mask, goggles, and gloves. Wearing this gear will help to protect you from the harmful effects of the dust.
If you practice proper prevention and ventilation protocols, you are fine with wearing a simple N95 Mask, gloves and goggles while collecting excess dust on site.
Learn Best Practices from Professionals
We offer a 5-day course at Polished Concrete University where you can learn best safety practices, installation and more. If you’re a flooring contractor looking to enter this booming industry, there is no better way than to learn from experienced professionals. In the class, we cover:
- Proper safety protocols during installation
- How to grind concrete floors
- How to install polished concrete
Sign up and kick start your flooring career today!
Conclusion
Workplace safety is important when working with concrete. The best way to ensure you don’t have to deal with unsafe working conditions is to prevent them. When you follow these tips, you can prevent the creation of dust, and handle it safely if it is created!
If you have any safety concerns or questions, ask our specialists at (954) 228-8856. Whether it’s safety gear or installation materials, we sell it on our EpoxyETC store.