Overview:

During the construction of the new Footscray Hospital in Victoria, extensive tiling and cutting works required an effective solution to manage hazardous dust exposure and mitigate construction noise.

Given the updated silica regulations (effective 1st September 2024) and heightened site compliance requirements, the contractor engaged Control Hire to provide a fully encapsulated and safe cutting environment.

The Solution:

Control Hire delivered a custom-engineered cutting station enclosure, designed specifically to encapsulate airborne dust and attenuate noise during tile and masonry cutting. The enclosure was connected to an industrial-grade 3,400m³ Air Scrubber with a three-stage-filtration setup. This allowed for direct extraction and filtration of dust-laden air at the source.

The system provided dual compliance: reducing respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure to below Safe Work Australia’s WES limits (0.05 mg/m³ TWA), and ensuring noise levels remained within EPA and council thresholds.

The integration of Control Hire’s modular system ensured rapid setup, minimal disruption to workflows, and full compatibility with existing site safety and environmental controls.

Equipment and Gear:

• 3,400m³ Air Scrubber with:
  • H13 HEPA filter (99.97% efficiency @ 0.3 microns)
  • G4 ring filter
  • G5 pad filter
  • Hood
• Custom-built cutting station enclosure with noise-dampening panels

Get Your Solution, today:

Whether you’re managing cutting, grinding, demolition, or similar high-risk works, Control Hire offers complete dust, fume, and noise engineering controls that ensure site compliance, worker safety, and operational efficiency.

👉 Contact Control Hire today to discuss your next project, or to arrange a free site assessment with one of our certified consultants.