Chelmsford Floor Sanding 

Health & safety first: The dangers of dust

One of the questions we're often asked about is any problems or dangers associated with the dust that is created by floor sanding. As The Floor Sanding Experts, we want to give you the most comprehensive advice possible.

Firstly let's look at some of the common problems arising from the dust floor sanding creates and some of the ways to mitigate and deal with it.
 

Irritation
One of the most common problems caused by dust is irritation, which can range from mild to moderate and even severe. The most common symptoms include itching, sneezing, short-term breathing problems, flushing skin and a runny nose. Bear in mind that most timbers are listed as an irritant.

Sensitivity
This is another common issue with dust. We are more sensitive to certain woods than others and the more we are exposed to a certain type of wood, the more we react.

Lung problems and damage
Dust isn't as dangerous as asbestos, but the fine wood dust created by sanding goes into the air and can be breathed in. Dust isn't life threatening like asbestos, but it can cause small amounts of damage to the lungs, which are not always irreversible and may contribute to weaker lung capacity in the future.

So, what can we all do to minimise these issues?
Firstly, try to minimise the amount of airborne dust and only use professional sanding equipment if you know what you are doing. Here are some other suggestions:

Dust Control Systems (DCS)

Machines such as edgers and random orbital sanders can be connected to extractors, which will help to alleviate some of the dust. There are also dust control systems that can be purchased for belt sanders.

Air movers and ventilation
The clever placement of air movers, particularly in large spaces, used in conjunction with open windows will help to remove stale air and dust from a room and will let fresh air flow into the room.

Personal protection equipment
Personal protection equipment, such as masks or even respirators, is a must-have if you are using a hire sanding machine in order to prevent breathing in fine particles.

Of course, the best way to ensure your floors look immaculate and you eliminate as much dust from the home as possible when sanding is to use a professional sanding service. The Floor Sanding Experts specialise in dust free sanding so you don't need to worry. Contact us now to find out more.