Grain Dust

Control Measures

Occupational exposure to grain dust can occur in many industries including agriculture, transport, storage and the food and drink sector.

As grain dust is a respiratory sensitiser (asthmagen) it is necessary to reduce exposure so far as is reasonably practicable.

Where exposure to grain dust cannot be avoided it must be adequately controlled. Appropriate control measures may include one or more of the following:

• Changing processes and activities to reduce grain dust at source.
• Enclosing the process and ensuring that machinery is constructed, adapted and maintained to contain dust as far as possible.
• Using well designed and maintained local exhaust ventilation (LEV).
• Ensuring good general ventilation where materials are handled indoors.
• Organising the work to minimise the number of people exposed, duration, frequency and level of exposure.
• Ensuring proper handling of materials that does not create dust.
• Ensuring good maintenance of plant and equipment.
• Follow good housekeeping principles, (don’t use a brush or compressed air), use an industrial vacuum cleaner to remove excess dust from the floors, walls and rafters of buildings.
• Keep personal clothing and hair clean, never use compressed air to remove dust from clothing, use disposable protective clothing and ensure working clothes are laundered regularly.
• Where other methods of preventing exposure are not reasonably practicable, wear suitable, properly fitted and maintained respiratory protective equipment (RPE).
• Inform and train employees about the use of control measures.

Where LEV is used, employers should ensure that employees are trained on how to operate the equipment and that it has been suitably maintained and thoroughly examined so as to ensure it is performing as intended. Further information on LEV systems is available within HSE guidance entitled Controlling airborne contaminants at work: A guide to local exhaust ventilation (LEV) HSG258.

Where respiratory protection is needed:

• Workers should ensure they are wearing the right type of respirator for the job.
• Workers must have had a face-fit test to ensure tight-fitting respirators fit properly and be clean shaven for this type of respirator to work effectively.
• Workers should be trained to use, check and clean the respirator.
• The filters or disposable respirators should be changed regularly.
• The equipment should be stored in a clean, dust-free place such as a container.
• If any defects are found, or the respirator does not fit, is dirty or its filter is old, it should be replaced.

Further advice on controlling grain dust is available within the HSE publications Grain Dust Guidance Note EH66 and INDG140 Controlling exposure to grain dust.

Detailed guidance within agriculture on controlling the risks associated with grain dust is also available within a series of COSHH Essentials information sheets.