Ways To Reduce Dust Produced by Concrete Grinding

One of the biggest problems you’ll face when grinding concrete is the sheer amount of dust and silica that’s kicked up as you go. This problem can’t simply be ignored—this dust is very dangerous and can lead to health complications, such as silicosis. While there is no way to completely remove the threat of the dust, there are ways to keep it to a minimum. We’ll walk you through a few ways to reduce dust produced by concrete grinding, so you can keep yourself and your workers safe.

Keeping Things Wet

Wet grinding may have some of its own problems, but it’s one of the best ways to reduce the amount of dust produced by grinding concrete. This process involves fitting your grinding tool with a wet cutting port that keeps the silica from ever becoming airborne in the first place, thus greatly reducing the risk of breathing it in. You can alternatively have a portable water tank nearby to spray the concrete as you go which will also prevent dust from being kicked into the air.

Vacuums and HEPA Filters

If you decide to forego wet grinding, you still have the option of using an industrial vacuum to suck away the dust before it billows into the air. These vacuums are powerful enough to grab the dust as it is forms, and they’re also very useful for cleaning the job site of excess dust once the grinding is complete. Whatever kind of vacuum you use, it should be fitted with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This filter will prevent the dust from escaping the vacuum as you continue to use it; it’s an essential part of the process.

Good Employee Training

At the end of the day, it’s you or your employee who need to know how to handle the dust in order to keep everyone safe. Efficient training and preparation are key to making sure everyone stays healthy. It’s essential to stress the importance of breathing apparatuses, no matter what method of dust prevention you are using. Respirators are still required if you want to lower the chances of detrimental health effects.

When you need concrete surface preparation tools, Bedrock Supplies is here to help you out. We want you and your team to be as completely safe on the job, which is why we only stock quality concrete grinding products. Give us a call if you have any questions about concrete surface preparation and we’ll do our best to help.