MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT Managing the risks of dust and vibration
When it comes to using power tools, the risks that building services engineers are exposed to in the course of their work are sometimes overlooked. Here, Kevin Brannigan, marketing manager at Makita outlines the potential hazards and how selecting the right tools can make a significant difference
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uilding services is not considered a ‘dusty’ sector and the absence of heavy machinery from professionals’ day-to-day work gives rise to the misconception that tool
vibration is less of a concern. However, both these hazards must be carefully managed to avoid immediate and future health issues for users.
Vibration
It is important to understand that all power tools produce some level of vibration, and that when used frequently or for prolonged periods of time, even more general tools can present a potential problem. Exposure to high levels of vibration can cause health issues including Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), an umbrella term that includes conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Vibration White Finger. HAVS commonly results in painful, tingling or numb fingers and hands because of damage to the nerves and blood vessels, as well as weakened muscles and reduced dexterity. Each tool has a vibration exposure value and when multiplied by the usage time or trigger time, this provides the daily exposure in points. The Health and Safety Executive sets the Exposure Action Value (EAV) at 100 points per day. This is the point at which steps must be taken to reduce or manage exposure to vibration. It also sets the Exposure Limit Value (ELV) at 400 points when work must stop. There are easy to use calculator tools available that will help in assessing the risk. Depending on the task, these daily thresholds can be reached relatively quickly. For example, when using the chisel mode of a rotary hammer drill to remove
the core of a chase in a wall, the EAV may be reached in just 15 mins of trigger time and the ELV in just 60 minutes. To extend the time before this point is
reached, and therefore improve productivity, it is valuable to look for tools that have lower vibration exposure values. Manufacturers should provide this within the product information so tools can be compared easily. High-quality tools will often include features and technologies to minimise vibration levels. For example, many Makita rotary hammers feature Anti Vibration Technology (AVT), a range of measures built into selected tools, such as counter-weights, damper springs and vibration absorbing housings, which when combined significantly reduce the vibration transferred to the user’s hands.
Dust
Another hazard that is sometimes underestimated is dust. Exposure to dust can irritate skin and eyes but is especially harmful when breathed in. There are two main types of dust that professionals need to be aware of: inhalable and respirable dust. Inhalable dust is made up of visible, airborne particles, which can be breathed in and deposited in the respiratory tract. However, while far from harmless, these particles are usually captured and cleared naturally by the body’s mucus. The second type, respirable dust is more dangerous as these finer particles, often invisible to the eye, can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause permanent damage. This type of dust includes Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), which is generated when drilling and cutting stone, brick and concrete. Some RCS particles are 100 times smaller than the average grain of sand. When inhaled RCS can cause scar tissue to form in the lungs and prolonged exposure to even small quantities of RCS dust can cause silicosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and has been linked to cancer. It is estimated that around 500 construction professionals die every year due to past exposure to silica dust.
For those who work in building services, tasks such as modifications to walls and floors to accommodate pipework, conduit, ducting or other equipment installations can be a source of RCS. Additionally, while in smaller concentrations, there is also RCS present in gypsum dust. Therefore, care must be taken to control dust when drilling or cutting into plasterboard. To effectively manage the risk of dust, it is important to always use an effective dust extractor when carrying out any dust generating task as there is no safe level of
28 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MARCH 2025
exposure. An M-class extractor is the minimum legal requirement for tasks that generate RCS. M-Class extractors remove 99.9% of dust to achieve exposure levels as low as => 0.1mg/ m3 of air per hour. As inhaling even miniscule amounts of RCS dust can be harmful, it is important to supplement extraction with appropriate Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE). For RCS generating tasks, the HSE recommends a mask with an assigned minimum protection factor (APF) of 20 or FFP3. An APF of 20 means the wearer will only breathe in one-twentieth or less of the substances present in the air around them. The RPE must also be CE or UKCA marked in accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 to ensure it meets the required standard and performs as intended. To make dust management as simple as possible, it is always recommended that professionals look for tools and extractors that work together to streamline the process. This includes features such as auto-start, automatic operation of the extractor when the tool is in use. This is commonly available on extractors with power take-off that allow corded tools to be connected and powered directly from the extractor. There are now also similar options available for cordless tools, allowing flexibility and simplicity. Technologies such as Makita’s Auto-Start Wireless System (AWS) connects compatible tools and extractors together using Bluetooth to run the extractor automatically when the tool is activated. For extractors with power take-off but no built-in Bluetooth connectivity, there are also adaptors available to allow the same automatic operation with cordless tools.
In addition, for increased flexibility, building services professionals should consider the latest generation of cordless M-Class dust extractors, which also alleviates the need to locate a power source and reduces the risk of trip hazards as no power cable is required. By removing the need for mains power, these extractors allow easier and quicker work and make dust management simpler, especially for those ‘quick jobs’. In particular, it is worth looking for an option that utilises the same battery platform as the cordless tools to minimise the number of different batteries and chargers required. The hazards of exposure to dust and vibration should not be underestimated as these can have serious impacts on long-term health. Recognising the potential dangers and addressing these through the adoption of best practice is essential. However, choosing tools with features and technologies that help manage and reduce these risks is an important consideration.
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