Short Course / Workshop: Understanding & Compliance for Airborne Particulate + Fibre Exposure in the Workplace / RESPA Quality HEPA Cabin Air Technology    28-Jun-13

Are you aware that:

• Over 500,000 (2011- global) annual deaths: are related directly to exposure to workplace / industry airborne particulate (source: OH Learning- AIOH Conference 2011).

• Sampling / 30 year Record Keeping: under the current Safe Work Australia Regulative Guidance on the Interpretation of Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminates- April 2013, workplaces are to ensure that they sample each worker and maintain records of sampling for 30 years. This means that if sampling is not completed, if records are not maintained then respective employers will risk liability if Health issues arise - irrespective if the worker varies his workplace / employer over- time.

• PBCU (Person or Business Conducting an Undertaking): Under the Safe Work WHS Act those in the Chain of Accountable for ensuring Workers Safety and Health also now include, Suppliers, Importers, OEM's, Designers, Installers, etc and that severe penalties under Category 1,2 and 3 apply (see page 35- 40).  

• Respirable Silica: (present in all airborne particulate) with Australian Standards for OEL for a 12 hour shift less than 0.05 mg / M3 TWA with an arrestance of all particulate of >0.3 micron.

• Asbestos Fibre: has been reduced to virtually zero by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

• Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM): in the way of engine exhaust has been deemed a Class 1 Carcinogenic by the IARC / World Health Organisation (WHO) and Safe Work Australia.

• HVAC Maintenance: costs for a Fixed or Mobile Cabin HVAC working in Mining / Quarrying Industries costs between $5,000- $15,000 / annum due to ingress of contamination. This does not include indirect costs associated with loss of Productivity, Labour, Filter Costs, etc.

Mobile and Fixed Pant Cabins / Equipment are subjected to "dusty" contaminated operating environments in such industries as Mining, Quarrying, Construction, Earthmoving, Fertiliser, Cement, Agriculture, Timber and many others.

These environments contain Airborne Particulate / Fibres that can cause severe lung disease and other short and long term health issues.

Filtration Panels / Cartridges of conventional Mobile Plant HVAC Systems are not adequately sealed or / and do not use HEPA Grade Filter Media. Using other Filter media will result in not providing adequate protection for the Operator and subsequently non- compliance to OEL legislation Occupational Exposure Limits.

As volumes of dust are quite high, HVAC Air Filtration systems are not adequate to handle the volumes of dust / fibres for long periods of time and so contamination of the HVAC components (Evaporator Coils, etc) will result in frequent filter replacement, extensive maintenance costs and associated productivity loss.

Subsequently, the costs to operations are massive and in the hundreds of $Millions for Filter Media replacement, Labour for Filter Element exchange, premature failure of HVAC components and this is without considering loss of associated Productivity and the Health effects upon the Operator.

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