Is it safer to vacuum than blow dust?

[Keitai]

At work we have brushes and brooms banned.
You can only vacuum dust, using decent filters.
This was because of dust issues and air quality.
Although I guess it depends on the frequency of the dust

The dust is terrible in this underground parking lot. I wear a mask but still seem to get a sore throat that evening. It's only ten minutes blowing and sweeping though.

What vacs do you use?

 

[Tigercubrider]

Nilfisk something. I will check
They are whatever class is ok for asbestos

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I can't believe there is a thread regarding sweeping up, I'm sure the next post would be "do you push or pull the broom?"

Actually AFAIK using blowers in indoor environments to clear dust and debris is a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act, assuming the OP is doing this professionally. Common sense has for years dictated that dust on floors should be damped down with water (spritzed) before sweeping up but that ideally it should be vacuumed up with an appropriate vacuum cleaner (which on construction sites means a class L or better, depending on the material). Either way a P2 or better face fitted mask is a must and I would commend the JSP Force 8 mask to the OP over disposable masks any day

And yes it is safer to vacuumproviding your vsc is adequate

 

[johnny2007]

Use a pressure washer and push all debris in a corner then sweep up the muddy mess.
No dust and cleaner floor.

 

[Keitai]

Nilfisk something. I will check
They are whatever class is ok for asbestos

Thxs. Appreciated

 

[Keitai]

Actually AFAIK using blowers in indoor environments to clear dust and debris is a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act, assuming the OP is doing this professionally. Common sense has for years dictated that dust on floors should be damped down with water (spritzed) before sweeping up but that ideally it should be vacuumed up with an appropriate vacuum cleaner (which on construction sites means a class L or better, depending on the material). Either way a P2 or better face fitted mask is a must and I would commend the JSP Force 8 mask to the OP over disposable masks any day

And yes it is safer to vacuumproviding your vsc is adequate

Thanks so much. Been doing this for ten minutes every week for three years. Got to stop it now. I'll hose down the whole area where leaves and consequently dust is too and suck it in with vac on either my stihl petrol vac/blower or use electric blower/vac.

 

[Keitai]

That Billygoat is a newer version of mine - basically you can use the flexible hose for cleaning or the front scoop for broader sweeps....there's a plate on the bottom that is fixed for the former, removed for the latter. The front scoop can be lowered or lifted. The bag is huge and has a nylon zip which allows emptying.
It will pick up cans and bottles as well as twigs and they'll all be pulverised by the impeller below the engine.
It's a very effective machine but takes up a lot of storage space - if it can be justified then go for it! Mine hires well in the autumn but is generally a garage ornament for most of the year
The machine can tend to wander courtesy of its own inertia when using the flexy hose so I bought some wheelchair brakes from ebay and fixed them on.
John

Apparently Webb are bringing out a supreme walk behind vac with brush/ hose and scarier attachments £500. In Nov.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Makita already have a dual 18 volt cordless backpack vacuum which is being used for tasks like office, event, bus and train cleaning. It is an L-class tool

 

[Keitai]

Makita already have a dual 18 volt cordless backpack vacuum which is being used for tasks like office, event, bus and train cleaning. It is an L-class tool

I'll look into it. I take it L class means very little dust is blown back out like in other vacs

 

[Tigercubrider]

I think ours are class H

 

[Keitai]

I think ours are class H

I guess job and knocks means this one-

https://www.toolden.co.uk/power-too...1ynGSl6Sy98038NsRwh9RrIeUXfAcOqwaAoYKEALw_wcB


H class sounds great.

I guess wetting the dust then vacuuming wouldn't work

 

[Brigadier]

Use a pressure washer and push all debris in a corner then sweep up the muddy mess.
No dust and cleaner floor.

Never a good idea to blast stuff into corners.
Even if you don't get it into your eyes, you'll end up getting mucky.
Poor practice.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I guess job and knocks means this one-

https://www.toolden.co.uk/power-too...1ynGSl6Sy98038NsRwh9RrIeUXfAcOqwaAoYKEALw_wcB

No, I actually meant the DVC260/DVC261. In fact I do have a DVC750 which was bought to do clean-ups after snagging jobs on finished properties. Works quite well for that, and at a pinch will extract for a smaller cordless saw or the like, as well (Makita DHS680 in my case). I feel it might be to small for the task you have at hand, however

H class sounds great.

Just be careful what you wish for. For general use an L class and a P2 mask are often sufficient. When buying any industrial vacuum check the cost of replacement filter sets (many H class vacs have a double filter set and H ckass filters are not cheap as a rule)

I guess wetting the dust then vacuuming wouldn't work

You damp down when you intend to sweep up with a brush (try it), not vacuum up (water and damp materisls don't do much fot your filters). If you are vacuuming you shouldn't need to do this as the vacuum filters should be matched to the task at hand - and in any case you should be wearing a face fitted mask when doing it (and now we are back to the JSP Force 8......)

 

[Nige F]

Apparently Webb are bringing out a supreme walk behind vac with brush/ hose and scarier attachments £500. In Nov.

Webb = Chinese now - allegedly

 

[Ian H]

Sounds like the floor needs painting to me.