Definition: – Dust according to Longman active study dictionary is or are very small bits of dirty or soil that looks like powder.

WHERE DO WE FIND DUST?

1. In our homes
2. In offices
3. On the road and highway
4. In construction site (Our focus

COMPOSITION OF DUST

There are different particles in the dust such as soil, human hair, animal waste, grass, gravel dust (from quarry and crushing plant), chemical substances. organic and inorganic matters.

EFFECT OF CONTACT WITH DUST

Skin contact: dust could cause irritation to the skin and also give allergic reaction, dermatitis and skin rash
Eye contact: dust is a foreign body when it gets in touch with the eye could cause lacrimation (excessive tears) and also cause infection on the white spot on the eye (conjunctivitis) on the eye lid (blephritis)

 Inhalation: – inhalation of dust could irritate the nose causing common cold, trigger up asthmatic attack on an asthmatic patient. can cause a lot of respiratory diseases. Upper or lower respiratory diseases such as: –
a. Sore throat
b. Laryngitis
c. Pneumonia
d. Pneumothorax
e. Bronchitis, etc.
Ear contact– dust can block the ear causing hearing impairment (as a result of impacted cerumen)

SAFETY MEASURES

1. DRESS FOR PROTECTION

a. Always wear long-sleeved overall uniform provided by the company
b. All Quarry and crushing plant workers are advised to always wear 100% cotton underwear
c. Always wear your safety boot provided by the company.
d. Always put on your safety glasses
e. Always wear face mask (or use hand towel) to cover your nose and mouth
f. Always put on your hand gloves to prevent injuries

2. Always remember to wash your hands and face before and after eating. drinking, smoking or using toilet
3. Put on your helmet always, welders should always put on their welding glasses.
4. Electricians should always safeguard them self from electricity.
5. Ear protector should be given to quarry and crusher workers as a safety measure.

Finally, health is wealth, safety measures are for you and not for the management or the company. If you want to live long, protects yourself by adhering to safety measures.

Most of the complications of the respiratory diseases surface after we might have left the company, so why not reason today when the sun shine to safeguard our tomorrow.

Presented by Olushola A. Kolawole (RN)
House unit Chairman (Salini Nigeria limited, Idu Site Abuja.)

This article was originally published in the Nigeria Construction Digest Vol 4 No. 5 June 2013. Images from www,google.com