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WARNING!
Some dust particles created by power
sanding, sawing, grinding, drill and other construction
jobs contain chemicals known to cause cancer, birth
defects or other reproductive harm. Some examples of
these chemicals are:
• Lead from lead-based paints.
• Crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other
masonry products.
• Arsenic and chromium from chemically treated timber.
• Your risk from these exposures varies, depending
upon how often you do this type of work. To reduce
your exposure to these chemicals:
• Work in a well-ventilated area.
• Work with approved safety equipment, such as those dust
masks that are specially designed to filter microscopic
particles
VIBRATION
The European Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive has been
brought in to help reduce hand arm vibration syndrome injuries to
power tool users. The directive requires power tool manufacturers
and suppliers to provide indicative vibration test results to enable
users to make informed decisions as to the period of time a power
tool can be used safely on a daily basis and the choice of tool.
SEE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS IN THE INSTRUCTION
MANUAL FOR THE VIBRATION LEVELS OF YOUR TOOL.
The declared vibration emission value should be used as a
minimum level and should be used with the current guidance on
vibration.
Calculating the actual period of use can be difficult and the HSE
website has further information.
To protect the lung, the COSHH Regulations sets a limit on the
amount of these dusts that you can breathe (called a Workplace
Exposure Limit or WEL) when averaged over a normal working
day. These limits are not a large amount of dust: when compared
to a penny it is tiny – like a small pinch of salt: This limit is the legal
maximum; the most you can breathe after the right controls have
been used.
HOW TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF DUST?
1. Reduce the amount of cutting by using the best sizes of building
products. Use a less powerful tool e.g. a block cutter instead of
angle grinder.
2. Using a different method of work altogether – e.g. using a nail
gun to direct fasten cable trays instead of drilling holes first.
3. Please always work with approved safety equipment, such
as those dust masks that specially designed to filter out
microscopic particles and use the dust extraction facility at all
time.
For more information please see the HSE website: http://www.hse.
gov.uk/construction or http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis69.pdf
