An educational library of workplace documents — purpose, who completes them, when they are used, typical fields, common mistakes and how they connect. Linked to workplace safety, workplace training, occupations, industries and employment documents. Informational only — template examples, not legal advice or official documents; employers remain responsible and using a document does not guarantee compliance.
What a dust and fume risk assessment is
A dust and fume risk assessment focuses on airborne contaminants produced by processes — wood dust, silica, welding fume, mists and similar — judges who is exposed, and records the controls including extraction, enclosure and respiratory protection. It is closely linked to wider hazardous-substance assessment.
This page is an educational overview with a simplified example. It is not an official template, not jurisdiction-specific and not legal advice — the employer decides what their dust and fume assessment must cover.
Purpose
- Identify processes that generate harmful dust, fume or mist.
- Judge who is exposed and how.
- Record controls — extraction, enclosure, wet methods.
- Set out respiratory protection and health surveillance where needed.
Who completes it
- A competent person appointed by the employer.
- With input from those who carry out the dusty or fume-producing work.
- Reviewed within the organisation’s own process.
- It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the assessor is competent.
When it is used
- Where processes produce airborne dust, fume or mist.
- When processes, materials or controls change.
- When extraction is altered or health surveillance flags a concern.
- On a review cycle defined by the employer.
Typical fields
- Process and the contaminant produced.
- Who is exposed and the tasks involved.
- Controls — local exhaust ventilation, enclosure, wet methods.
- Respiratory protection and its maintenance.
- Extraction checks, health surveillance and review date.
- Example fields only — adapt to the process and the applicable law.
Common mistakes
- Relying on masks instead of extraction at source.
- Local exhaust ventilation that is not maintained or tested.
- Dry sweeping or air lines that put dust back into the air.
- Never reviewing it when processes or materials change.
Document workflow
A dust and fume risk assessment sits alongside the COSHH assessment and the wider risk assessment, and feeds the safe system of work, extraction maintenance and any health surveillance. Findings feed training; a change or surveillance result triggers a review.
See the related documents below for what is commonly used with a dust and fume risk assessment.
Retention (high level)
Dust and fume assessments and related health and extraction records are generally kept for as long as they are relevant, with some health records retained for a long period, in line with the employer’s obligations and data-protection duties. Specific retention periods vary by jurisdiction.
This page does not state a required period — confirm retention with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
Dust and fume assessments are commonly completed and stored as PDFs alongside the COSHH assessment and extraction records. Exporting to PDF supports documentation; it does not make the assessment official or guarantee compliance.
Employer checklist
- Control dust and fume at source before relying on masks.
- Maintain and test local exhaust ventilation.
- Avoid dry sweeping and compressed-air cleaning of dust.
- Arrange health surveillance where indicated and review regularly.
Worker notes
- Use extraction and capture the dust or fume at source.
- Wear the respiratory protection specified and check its fit.
- Report extraction that is not working or excessive dust.
Country considerations
Exposure limits for dusts and fumes, and health surveillance rules, vary by country, and the official authority differs. This page is high-level and general — it is not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee that a document is valid anywhere.
Always confirm the current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for assessing and controlling exposure to dust and fume and compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not determine what your assessment must contain, does not make a workplace compliant and does not transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
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