Our Hurricane™ line of Industrial Vacuum is offered in a variety of styles, including trailer mounted and skid mounted vacuums. We are committed to providing quality, high-production vacuums through our process of manufacturing, designing, building, and testing each vacuum to exceed standards set. While we only outline 20 reasons to choose our line of industrial vacuums over our competitors below, we believe there is an infinite amount of factors that set our equipment apart from competitors. Read through our 20 reasons why our industrial vacuums:
May 2024
SILICA DUST PREVENTION: CONSTRUCTION DUST CONTROL METHODS FOR MASONS
There are numerous job tasks and functions throughout the construction industry that are notorious for producing massive amounts of dust. Typically these jobs involve grinding, sawing, drilling, and chiseling. For masons, the danger comes from operating on stone and concrete materials such as brick, asphalt, and mortar that contain concentrated amounts of crystalline silica. When these materials are operated on, silica-containing dust is emitted and enters the workers’ breathing zone.
The amount of dust that is produced or that accumulates varies depending on the task being performed and the material that the task is being performed on. Notably, concrete cutting and grinding, jackhammering, and tuck-pointing are all construction tasks that are completed by masons during demolition, refurbishment, or foundational construction. This article takes a deeper look at each function and explains how dust is formed as well as how airborne dust can be eliminated to prevent masons from developing serious, life-threatening lung illnesses.
Concrete Cutting & Grinding
Concrete grinding and cutting are frequently used techniques in the construction industry. Masons use specialized equipment to cut concrete, asphalt, brick, and tile for industrial projects such as building construction or entryway creation. Concrete grinding often occurs when sidewalks, parking lots, roads, and highways have been overused and are in need of repair. This method of construction offers instant enhancement to the overall smoothness and safety of the concrete. When concrete is cut or ground, silica dust is released and without the proper control methods, this dust can pose serious health issues to masons.
Controls – Operate grinding and cutting tools that are equipped with an integrated water delivery system to help eliminate silica dust production. These systems continuously supply water to the concrete surface which cuts off dust production at the source. For proper implementation, employers are required to ensure the following:
- A sufficient amount of water is applied to the surface for dust suppression;
- Spray nozzles are not congested or defective and are applying water at the point of dust conception;
- All hoses and connections from the water source are intact
For masons who are grinding specifically, a grinder with a shroud and commercial dust collection system should be provided to minimize the secretions of dust. Dust collection systems should be used for both indoor and outdoor grinding operations. For concrete grinder dust collectors, employers must guarantee that:
- Shroud and dust collection systems are installed according to the instructions of the manufacturer;
- Hoses connecting the vacuum system to the grinding tool are intact and without any knots or bows;
- All dust collection bags and filters are emptied, cleaned, and changed regularly to avoid becoming clogged and overfilling
Jackhammering
Jackhammering is common for masons who need to break large, thick slabs of concrete or stone for demolition projects. These tools can also be used when laying a new foundation to cut out old, deteriorated concrete so that it can be replaced. Due to how destructive the process is, jackhammering is another construction job function that produces excessive amounts of silica-containing dust.
Controls – Similar to concrete grinding and cutting, jackhammering is safest when concrete is destroyed in a wet state. However, this type of work produces significant amounts of dust, and water spraying techniques should almost always be paired with an industrial shroud and dust collection system. Vacuum systems such as these will enhance wet-cutting methods by collecting any remaining dust that can be created. By law, employers are required to ensure that:
- Shroud and vacuum systems have been appropriately installed and employees have been trained on how to operate and clean equipment;
- Vacuum hoses are free of clogs and kinks, and filters are cleaned and replaced on a regular basis;
- An adequate amount of water and pressure is applied to the point of dust formation to enhance overall dust suppression
Tuck Pointing
The process of removing timeworn, deteriorated mortar is more commonly known as tuckpointing. Mortar is used to hold bricks and stonework together and seal any gaps to eliminate the potential of water seeping in and damaging the architectural structure. To replace old mortar, masons must rake and scrape it out with a handheld grinding blade. This method inevitably produces a cloud of dust containing respirable crystalline silica.
Controls – Control and prevention methods that help to eliminate silica dust production when tuck pointing include using a grinder that is fashioned to a commercial shroud and dust collection system. Tuck-pointing dust collection systems should have a filter that collects dust at an efficiency of 99 percent or greater. Systems with filter-cleaning instruments prevent debris and dust from building up on the filter and greatly improve the suction of the dust collection system. It is vital that employers confirm:
- Shroud and dust collection systems are installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and efficiently enclose the grinding blade;
- Vacuum filters are cleaned regularly and hoses connecting the tool to the vacuum are intact and without kinks;
- Whenever possible, the tool is operated in a direction that goes against the blade rotation;
- Employees have been properly trained and working and cleaning methods
If you’d like more information on industrial vacuums or dust collectors to protect your masons and crew, feel free to send us a message or give us a call.
CONTROLLING CONCRETE DUST WITH INDUSTRIAL VACUUM SYSTEMS
Concrete grinding, drilling, sawing, and demolition projects regularly produce unhealthy and dangerous amounts of construction dust. These functions are often used on materials including concrete, brick, mortar, and stone, all of which contain concentrated amounts of crystalline silica. In concentrated form crystalline silica poses little to no risk to worker health, however, once ground or cut it forms a dust that can be released into the worker’s breathing zone. This silica-containing dust becomes particularly detrimental once it is airborne.
Last September, OSHA enacted its recently updated Silica Dust Standard, requiring the entire construction industry to comply with its new regulations. Under the new standard, a workers’ permissible exposure limit (PEL) has been reduced to 50 micrograms of respirable silica dust per cubic meter of air (μg/m3) averaged over an 8-hour workday.
Employers were also required to create and implement an exposure control plan that clearly defined effective methods for reducing their employees’ exposure to silica dust. This included requirements for measuring the amount of silica dust that each individual worker is exposed to, permitting employee access to zones where silica exposures are above the PEL, and providing routine medical examinations to employees who are exposed to respirable silica dust on a day-to-day basis. In conjunction with the exposure control plan, training must also be provided to educate employees on the hazard that is silica dust, as well as how to properly operate and clean control equipment to help limit exposures.
A number of control methods can be applied to help prevent or reduce silica dust exposure. Water-spraying stone and concrete prior to cutting or grinding is a prevention method that helps to eliminate silica dust at the source. Water spraying is not a perfect control method and becomes more effective when paired with an industrial vacuum system. Vacuum systems provide an extra defense against dust production and can be used as an attachment to grinding equipment, or during worksite clean-up.
Concrete Dust Extractor – Eliminating Silica Dust with Industrial Vacuums
Vacuum systems, specifically with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, are useful tools for efficiently minimizing exposure to airborne silica dust on dusty job sites. These systems are the number one choice for concrete dust removal as they possess the ability to collect and retain dust as it forms without dispersing it back into the work environment.
Collecting silica dust that is fine in composition requires a graduated, multi-stage filtration system. Dust is first captured by coarser filters and as it moves through the system, the filters progressively become smaller, and dust is finally retained by fine, HEPA filters. At the bare minimum, HEPA filters should retain 99.97% of dust particles. It is essential that they be the last stage of the filtration system to prevent small dust particles from passing back through the vacuum.
A large benefit of HEPA vacuum cleaners is how universal they are. In addition to job site cleaning that removes dust accumulations, they can be used in various other ways to minimize silica exposure limits in construction workers.
- Vacuum Attachments for Power Tools – During grinding, drilling, and cutting, tools that are integrated with a HEPA-filtrated industrial vacuum hose can quickly and simultaneously suck up the dust that is produced. Concrete grinders with vacuum attachments are particularly advantageous because they eliminate silica dust at the source.
- Difficult To Reach Areas – Spaces such as overhead pipes and beams may be difficult to clean due to the fact that they are harder to reach. Since dust accumulation in these areas can contribute to both health and fire hazards, ensuring they have been properly cleaned is just as important. Using the correct vacuum hose and accessories, cleaning these spaces can be easily accomplished.
- Decontaminating Employee Attire – Prior to completing work and before entering other locations such as facility break rooms or their home, employees are required to properly clean their clothing and remove dust residue. HEPA-filtrated industrial vacuum systems are efficient for removing silica dust that has built up on the employees’ uniforms. Systems should be placed at all exit locations of the job site to ensure each employee has the opportunity to clean their clothing.
All industrial vacuum systems are created to serve specific purposes and are built to meet the needs and requirements of certain facilities and industries. The different models range from stationary to portable, electric to pneumatic, or diesel.
Have any Questions? Need to Buy or Rent?
Looking for an industrial vacuum system for your next concrete assignment? At Industrial Vacuum our experienced sales staff has the expertise to assist you in selecting a vacuum system that would be most suitable for your project. Our HEPA Industrial Vacuum Systems include our Vactagon Drum Top Vac and our Hurricane line of trailer and skid-mounted vacuums, both of which are ideal for cement dust clean-up and are built to withstand wet and dry substances. For shorter, small projects we also offer vacuum rental services consisting of our Hurricane 300, 500, and 755 models. To learn more about our systems and services, please contact our sales department or request a quote today.
HOW DOES A HURRICANE WORK?
The Hurricane™ Vacuum works differently than your household vacuum which commonly uses a bag to collect vacuumed debris.
All Hurricanes™ have a three-stage filtration system
Stage 1: The vacuumed material is pulled through the vacuum line by the air that is drawn through the vacuum pump. This air pulls the material toward the vacuum and then enters the cyclone separator/baghouse. The material decelerates as it enters and spins around in a cyclonic motion. This is called cyclonic separation.
Stage 2: The heavier material falls into the collection cone waiting to be manually or automatically discharged. The dust is carried with the air stream that moves upward toward the 37 pre-filter bags.
Stage 3: The air passes through the filters leaving the dust on the dirty side of the bag. The dust is then blasted off the filter by our reverse pulse filter cleaning system. This dust falls into the collection cone after it is knocked off the filters. The clean air that passes through the filter bags goes through a hose down to the blower safety filter.
This final stage of filtering catches any minute particles that may have slipped through the filter bags (Stage 2). After the air passes through the blower safety filter the air goes through the blower and then is discharged through an exhaust silencer. This exhausted air is then exhausted to an atmosphere scrubbed clean of dust and contaminants.
We turned a Hurricane™ inside out so you can see exactly how it works
THE DUSTY DANGERS OF CONCRETE CUTTING & GRINDING
Concrete cutting and concrete grinding are very dusty jobs in the construction industry, both posing a serious health risk to masons. Masonry blocks, bricks, and concrete slabs contain concentrated amounts of crystalline silica. When these materials are dry-cut they release silica-containing dust into the workers’ breathing zone. Regular exposure to this hazardous dust can lead to the development of silicosis, a deadly and incurable lung disease. It is estimated that roughly 250 construction workers die each year due to exposure to dangerously high levels of silica dust.
Masons and construction workers face various levels of exposure to silica dust depending on the task being performed. For instance, there is less potential for overexposure for masons who perform wet tasks such as laying blocks in mortar or wet cutting concrete.
On the other hand, masons who dry cut concrete blocks and slabs regularly face exposures that are up to 10 times OSHA’s defined permissible exposure limit (PEL). Dry-cutting tasks increase the likelihood that an employee will develop a lung disease over a period of 10 or more years.
While dry cutting increases the likeliness of developing a lung-related illness, the most dangerous task affecting the health of masons is grinding out deteriorated mortar from brick or concrete structures. Exposures from this type of work can exceed 50 times the OSHA PEL and can cause lung diseases to cultivate over a period of several months to 10 years.
Work Practices to Control Silica Dust Production
Several approaches can be taken to help protect construction workers against the dangers of airborne silica dust. Control methods and work practices that reduce dust accumulation in concrete cutting and grinding include:
- Wet Cutting (Water Spraying) – This engineering control helps to eliminate silica dust from ever becoming airborne and is the most efficient method of dust control in concrete cutting and grinding. Saws and grinding equipment should be fitted with a wet-cutting port, or alternatively, a portable water tank or cart can be supplied. Masons should create a plan prior to arriving at the job location to make certain that the resources and manpower required are accessible for successful wet-cutting projects.
- HEPA Vacuum & Exhaust Ventilation Systems – When dust cannot be eliminated at the source, industrial vacuums and exhaust ventilation systems are extremely useful tools. These systems can suck up dust as it forms and can be extremely beneficial during job site clean-up. Vacuum systems should be equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that prevents collected dust from escaping the vacuum system.
- Training – Employees should receive thorough training on the dangers of silica dust. Training should cover prevention and control methods, respiratory protective equipment, as well as cleaning methods when work is completed.
Open, Enclosed, & Confined Spaces: Half vs. Full Faced Respirators
Depending on the layout of the job site, masons and construction workers are required to wear respiratory protective equipment (RPE) where preventative work practices and control methods are not effective enough on their own. Respirators should be properly fit tested prior to use and a respiratory protection program should be implemented to guarantee that they are used safely and appropriately. Listed below are the three main types of respirators that can be used depending on the worksite:
- Disposable Dust Respirators – These can be used in areas where exposures are up to 5 times the OSHA PEL. They are often used by masons who block run, build scaffolds, or mix mortar. These masks must be NIOSH-approved in order to be deemed safe enough to mitigate exposure. Frequently they are used in open spaces and on jobs where dust accumulation is relatively low.
- Half-Face Dust Respirator – Half-face respirators are safe for exposures up to 10 times the OSHA PEL. They should include dust cartridges that are cleared regularly. Typically these respirators are used in open spaces, but can also be used for some projects completed in enclosed spaces.
- Full Face Dust Respirator – Finally, full-face dust respirators can protect workers from exposure to up to 50 times the OSHA PEL. These are required when a mason is tasked with grinding mortar prior to tuck-pointing. Typically these are used in enclosed and confined spaces where dust can accumulate quickly and in large quantities.