Dust Extraction: Why It Matters and What Actually Works

Dust Is Killing Tradesmen - Literally

This isn't scaremongering. Silica dust from cutting concrete, brick, and stone causes silicosis and lung cancer. Wood dust causes cancer. Even MDF dust is carcinogenic. Every year, thousands of construction workers develop serious respiratory disease. Don't be one of them.

What Dust Are You Creating?

High risk (fine silica dust):

• Cutting concrete, brick, block, stone
• Angle grinding masonry
• Drilling into concrete/brick
• Chasing walls for cables

Medium risk:

• Cutting wood (especially MDF, hardwood, treated timber)
• Sanding any material
• Planing timber
• Routing

Lower risk but still worth managing:

• Drilling into wood
• General construction dust
• Plasterboard cutting

The Exposure Limits

UK workplace exposure limits for silica dust: 0.1 mg/m³. Sounds technical, but here's what it means in practice: cutting one concrete block with an angle grinder and no extraction creates enough dust to exceed safe limits for hours. One cut.

The HSE is increasingly enforcing this. Fines for inadequate dust control are in the thousands.

Solutions That Actually Work

On-tool extraction:

The gold standard. Dust is captured right where it's created.

• SDS drills with dust extraction attachments
• Angle grinders with shrouds and extraction ports
• Circular saws with dust ports connected to extractors
• Sanders with built-in extraction connection
• Makita and DeWalt both make excellent extraction-ready tools

Dust extractors:

• M-class minimum for wood dust (99.9% filtration)
• H-class for silica and carcinogenic dust (99.995% filtration)
• Auto-start function - extractor runs when tool runs
• HEPA filters capture the finest particles

Site dust control:

• Wet cutting for masonry when practical
• Isolation - sheet off work areas
• Ventilation to outside, not just circulating dust
• End-of-day cleanup with vacuum, not broom

Common Excuses (And Why They're Wrong)

"I've been doing it for years and I'm fine"

Occupational lung disease takes 10-20 years to develop. You won't know you've got it until it's too late. By the time you're coughing, the damage is permanent.

"PPE is enough"

Masks are the last resort, not the first solution. They don't filter perfectly, they need fitting properly, and you'll take them off. Extraction removes the hazard at source.

"Extraction slows me down"

Less than you'd think once you're set up. And it's faster than silicosis treatment.

"My customers don't care about dust"

Your customers don't want dust everywhere either. Better dust control is a selling point.

What to Buy

Starting out - minimum setup:

• M-class extractor (£200-400): Handles most wood dust adequately
• Hoses and adaptors for your tools (£30-80)
• FFP3 masks for jobs where extraction isn't possible (£30-50 for box)

Proper setup for dusty trades:

• H-class extractor (£400-800): Essential for any masonry work
• Auto-switching system
• Extraction-compatible power tools
• Shrouds and attachments for angle grinders, drills, saws

Making It Practical

The best extraction system is one you'll actually use:

• Get hoses long enough to reach comfortably
• Quick-connect fittings between tools and hoses
• Compact extractor that fits in the van
• Built into your routine - set up extraction before starting, not after

The Bottom Line

Dust extraction isn't optional anymore - legally or health-wise. It's an investment in your lungs and your future. The tradesmen still working at 60 are the ones who protected themselves in their 30s.

Check our power tool accessories for extraction attachments that fit your kit.