2 minute read

Know your tools and keep safe

Dust

Dust from processes such as drilling, cutting, sanding, grinding, chasing and breaking is a largely unavoidable part of construction, demolition and fabrication work. However, both short and long-term exposure to dust poses a serious risk to health.

Specifically, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that as many as 12,000 lung disease-related deaths each year are linked to past exposure to dust. Around 500 of these are a result of exposure to silica dust, the fine particles in brick, cement and masonry dust. Landscapers should also be aware of wood dust, which can contain harmful substances such as bacteria, moulds, or fungi, as well as glues, resins, wood treatment chemicals and formaldehyde.

Whether working in soft or hard landscaping, there are various health and safety measures that professionals should take to minimise risk of injury and harm. Here, Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita, highlights some common risks faced on the job site and how landscapers can protect themselves.

There are numerous potential sources of danger on the job site, including handling harmful chemicals, working at height, trip hazards and working on uneven surfaces, and moving vehicles. Whilst these issues may not occur every day, there is one potentially dangerous activity that poses a risk for the majority of tasks: using power tools. From lawnmowers and hedge trimmers to circular saws and rotary hammers, there is something for every project. Yet no matter how useful such power tools are, it is crucial to be aware of the health and safety implications associated with their use.

Vibration

Despite being long overlooked as a normal part of construction, vibration is now a major topic that the power tool industry is working hard to provide solutions for. Specifically, it has become even more prevalent since the EU Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive 2002/44/EC came into force which deals with risks from vibration at work and has been implemented in the UK under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

Prolonged exposure to vibration when using hand-held powered equipment is known to affect blood vessels, nerves, muscles, tendons and other body parts. This can lead to Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) and, subsequently, Vibration White Finger (VWF), in which surface blood vessels become damaged, resulting in circulatory problems, pain and even gangrene.

In more detail, there are two types of dust, the first of which is inhalable. This is made up of visible, airborne particles that are breathed into the airways and deposited in the respiratory tract. And although these particles are usually cleared naturally by the body’s mucus, they can still irritate and damage the skin and eyes.

The second type is respirable dust. This refers to the finer, often invisible particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs. This includes Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) that can cause scar tissue to form in the lungs, leading to silicosis. Prolonged exposure to respirable dust can also cause Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which has been linked to cancer.

How To Minimise The Risk

As awareness continues to spread, manufacturers and employers are increasingly taking measures to provide safer alternatives and create a healthy work environment. This has largely led to the development of new power tool technology that reduces vibration, noise and dust –keeping health risks to a minimum. n To read more about the Makita technology visit: https://makitauk. com/anti-vibration-technology https://makitauk.com/dust

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