Any dust or particulate, including paper and tissue, has the potential to become a hazardous substance to health under COSHH if it is present in sufficient concentrations that it is equal to or greater than 10 mg/m3 (as a time-weighted average over an eight-hour period) of inhalable dust or 4 mg/m3 (as a time-weighted average over an eight-hour period) of respirable dust. 

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It is important to assess dust/particulate levels in your workplace by performing a dust survey to identify:

• does your workplace have a dust issue

• individual workers exposure levels to dust

• what tasks generate high levels of dust

• where controls may be needed to reduce exposure

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As part of the dust survey you may want to do static monitoring as well as personal monitoring to get a complete picture of dust levels within your workplace.