I am sure someone with better expertise than me will chime in, but FFP3 could be seen as overkill. However, unless you have some sort of LEV (which i assume you don't) then why would want some sort of face mask. FFP3 isn't much more expensive than the lower protection masks, therefore why not get them FFP3?

The HSE would expect you to ensure the masks are working as intended; the best way to do this is a face fit test. You can by a kit for around £150 and be trained to administor the tests yourself for less than £500. As such I would go this route.

The only issue then will be enforcing a clean shaven policy.

I agree FFP3 is way overkill but I think the main client has sent out a group email to all sub contractors and expecting us all to comply. So they expect the construction workers to be fully compliant, which I agree with but then also apply the same logic to our fitters who drill 4 holes to fit signs. The H&S bloke is very inflexible and won't listen to reason or justification.

Got to love an efficient H&S manager

Thinking a bit deeper into this, PPE is last resort. So if the fitters use the hoover (other brands available) they are supplied with and use that as LEV then this negates the need for RPE? Or am I over simplifying it?

Edited by user 21 March 2019 12:45:19(UTC)  | Reason: Added a bit

I have a small devie that I purchased in a German DIY store. It fits on the end of the vacuum hose of a domestic vacuum cleaner and can be place on the wall. The drill passes through a hole in the device to drill into the wall. Any dust is sucked into the domestic vacuum cleaner. It really works! No need for RPE, fit testing and all the rest!!

I have not seen anything similar here nor have I been able to establish who manufactured this. However, to produce something similar using 3D printing would not be difficult. If you would like more PM me with your e-mail address and I will send you a picture of the device.

Chris

Why is it, you ask for all the info and they respond, then you meet in the tea room and then more info is divulged.

All signs are inside, In the 8 hr shift they would drill 8 holes, 6mm dia and most are drilled in the walls which are covered in dot and dab and plasterboard so 75% of the dust falls down in the gap between the wall and the plasterboard.

We've finaly deduced that the email chain is a generic one sent to all subbies. So everyone involved with building/refurbing the shops right the way through to us a shop fitters, but we only put the signage up. We don't even fit the normal shelves, just the specific to the brands we work for. So you can get a feel, we have PING as a client so when you go into a golf club shop and see the stands the PING clubs are stood/displayed on, thats what we fit. But we have lots of other clients selling various other products from books to crisps etc.

This may be to do with respirable crystalline silica (RCS) where the HSE are mandating the use of FFP3 RPE. It was a couple of years ago but at a local safety group meeting the Inspector present was asked if RPE was necessary if a vacuum or water supression was used and they stated that due to the hazardous natrue of RCS that it was.

Just a thought.

Yul

We bought a couple of these for situations similar to the one you describe.

The price is a little steep but they negate the need for operatives to drag a vacuum around with them for just a few holes.

https://www.milwaukeetoolstore.co.uk/products/milwaukee-m12de-0-universal-hammer-drill-dust-extractor-body-only?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=12901780160546&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj9LkBRDnARIsAGQ-hUdMjXhXUm9K5lb2VT-TocZGzTegvxiwf_91NCMshHMKcYiWfFd5lmEaAocuEALw_wcB

Andy