RSP Safety

Dust and Fume sampling

What does the law require?

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires employers to provide and maintain working conditions that are safe and without risk to the health of employees, so far as is reasonably practicable. COSHH expands on this general duty and requires employers to prevent worker exposure to hazardous substances or, where this is not reasonably practicable, to ensure adequate control. Employees are required to make full and proper use of the control measures provided and to report any defects in them promptly to their employer.

A strategy for dust and fume control

A systematic approach to the control of dust and fume is essential, otherwise individual approaches or solutions may conflict. COSHH requires employers to:

assess the risks to health caused by exposure to dust and fume in processes;
take steps to ensure that exposure is prevented, or failing that, adequately controlled;
take steps to ensure that the rest of the requirements of CoSHH are met

Assessing the risks to health from dust and fume

To assess the risks from exposure to dust and fume you need answers to such questions as:

who is exposed and to what?
to how much and for how long?
from where?
how is dust and fume controlled?

Compare the results of air sampling with the relevant exposure limits, and guided by this information identify the areas where improved dust and fume control is needed.

How RSP Safety Services Ltd can help

We can carry out dust and fume assessment. All our assessors have years of experience in assessments and in finding simple but effective solutions to reduce dust and fume exposure. We only use the most up to date equipment. You will receive a comprehensive report on our findings and recommendations for dust and fume exposure reduction and what standard of protection to provide.