How To Implement Efficient Construction Dust Control

With the problem of nuisance dust growing across the nation, construction dust control has become a requirement by most states. It is because of this requirement that a construction dust control plan must be drawn up and implemented on practically every construction site that is larger than 1/2 acre.

The components that this plan has to include are any receptors that are sensitive to vegetation and water that are within 1,000 feet of the site. A map should be made of these receptors and submitted to the local health authority for review which often times includes their approval.

For a construction dust control plan to work effectively it must contain a way to monitor the dust problem. It should also include methods of minimizing or reduce the visible dust. It is recommended that visibly dry soil that has been disturbed, including unpaved roads, should be wetted down with water at least three times a day. This activity does not have to be done on non-business days or when sufficient rainfall to make the top soil not prone to making dust.

The plan should also include measures to handle wind situations. The direction of the wind should be monitored and recorded so downwind areas can be checked for evidence of dust.

In some areas, a third party consultant has to be employed to verify that the monitoring and proper precautions are taken to reduce visible dust. This third party should also have the ability to halt operations until the risk of producing excessive nuisance dust is reduced.

The use of dust control devices is recommended where applicable. This would include, but is not limited to, windbreaks, plastic tarps, and a tree line or shrubs.

The last requirement of a typical construction dust control plan is to control the speed of vehicles over the unpaved landscape. This is the biggest factor in reducing nuisance dust.