Construction Site Dust Monitoring: How to Monitor & Control Construction Site Dust Levels
May 11, 2023 110 view(s)

Construction Site Dust Monitoring: How to Monitor & Control Construction Site Dust Levels

Construction sites produce a significant amount of dust, thanks to all the cutting, drilling, grinding, sanding, and chipping of materials like concrete, brick, stone, sand, mortar, granite, and quartz.

Unfortunately, high levels of this dust can be hazardous to the health of construction workers as well as anyone near the project site, and it can also damage the environment.

Monitoring dust levels is a critical part of maintaining a safe workplace environment for construction workers. Safety and project managers should invest in construction site dust monitoring equipment that provides real-time alerts for when dust levels threaten the health and safety of people at the worksite and in the surrounding communities.


The Dangers of Dust: Construction Workers Are at High Risk

Breathing in dangerous construction dust at high levels and/or for a long period of time can result in serious health conditions. The type of dust inhaled, the size of the dust particle, and the time spent inhaling the respirable dust can all contribute to the health risks.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has identified exposure to respirable crystalline silica as a health risk for millions of workers across the United States in a variety of industries, including construction.

Respirable crystalline silica—also known as silica dust—is made up of small dust particles that are created when materials containing crystalline silica undergo activities like sanding, grinding, or drilling. These hazardous particles then become airborne, releasing into the air that construction workers breathe.

Inhaling this silica dust can cause silicosis, a preventable and irreversible lung disease that results in cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Additionally, workers who have silicosis or are exposed to silica have an increased risk of other serious diseases, including the following:

  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Lung cancer
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Construction workers are at risk for developing these diseases and conditions due to their consistent exposure to high silica dust levels.

The Importance of Dust Monitoring on Construction Sites

In large concentrations, dust is dangerous to the health of both onsite workers and locals. Controlling dust by using engineering controls and following construction safety protocols, such as installing dust monitors, will help prevent exposure to high levels of hazardous construction dust.

Construction dust monitoring equipment allows for the continuous measurement of dust and other particulate matter in the air. These tools alert users when dust reaches dangerous levels—so safety precautions can be put into action.


By properly monitoring the air quality and dust levels at project sites, construction managers can both confirm that dust mitigation measures are working properly and get the real-time data necessary to make decisions that will protect workers and community members.

Construction Dust Monitoring Equipment & Kits

Investing in construction site dust monitoring equipment is an important step in protecting the health of your employees.

At RAECO, we make things easier than ever with our perimeter dust monitoring kits. These kits come with the tools you need to monitor environmental dust exposure, see real-time results from your monitoring kit, and get notifications when a set dust threshold is reached.

TSI DustTrak DRX TSI DustTrak DRX

TSI DustTrak DRX

TSI DustTrak DRX monitors are industry-leading dust monitoring tools for construction environments. They use light-scattering laser photometers to give you real-time data on mass concentration readings of aerosols including dust, smoke, fumes, and mists. Its easy-to-read display shows both the concentration and size of aerosol particles in the environment, logging the data in its battery-operated system.

TSI DustTrak Weatherproof EnclosureTSI DustTrak Weatherproof Enclosure

TSI DustTrak Weatherproof Enclosure

For dust monitoring in harsh environments or areas where the TSI DustTrak DRX will be exposed to changing weather conditions, protect the monitor with the TSI DustTrak Weatherproof Enclosure.

This weatherproof case is mounted on a survey tripod with 360-degree omni-directional sampling inlet and has the ability to communicate monitor readings from the project site to the office, thanks to its wireless antennae and modems for communication.

Netronix Thiamis Communications DeviceNetronix Thiamis Communications Device

Netronix Thiamis Communications Device

The Netronix Thiamis Communications Device is a remote monitoring device that links sensors and instruments in the field with the Netronix cloud network, making it easier than ever to remotely monitor dust levels, retrieve data in the cloud, and set email or text alerts for when a dangerous air quality levels are reached.

Get High-Quality Construction Dust Monitoring Equipment at RAECO Rents

At RAECO Rents, we have the latest dust and particulate monitoring equipment for your next construction project. Our goal is to provide you with the devices you need to quickly and accurately monitor dust levels of construction site environments. With the data provided by our dust and air quality monitors, you can take action to protect your employees and the surrounding community from the potential health hazards caused by construction site dust.

When you rent equipment from RAECO Rents, you can expect to get clean, operable, high-quality instruments. With our Instant-On guarantee and after-hour support, we are determined to make your rental experience easy.


Contact our rental service team today to get help finding high-quality dust monitoring equipment, or fill out our perimeter dust monitoring checklist for a customized quote.