To effectively control dust from demolition and construction activity it is important to evaluate the risk caused by the pollutants emitted. The risk of dust from a demolition and construction site to have detrimental effects on amenity, health and the natural environment is related to:

• the activities being undertaken (demolition, earthworks, construction, trackout - including the number of vehicles and plant etc.);
• the duration of these activities;
• the size of the site;
• the prevailing meteorological conditions (wind speed, direction and rainfall);
• the proximity of sensitive receptors to the activity; 
• the topography of the location (whether there is a canyon effect);
• the existing levels of background pollution and the adequacy of the mitigation measures applied to reduce or eliminate dust; and
• the sensitivity of the receptors to dust.