When air monitoring is recommended
When commencing work with engineered stone , a PCBU should undertake baseline air monitoring to ensure that silica dust levels do not exceed the workplace exposure standard and that any risks to workers ’ health are minimised . Air monitoring should be repeated to ensure the air monitoring results are accurate and representative of the work being undertaken .
After a baseline is established , air monitoring should be undertaken : − at least every 12 months , or − in response to the triggers outlined below .
Examples of triggers for undertaking additional air monitoring include :
− changes to work practices ( for example , new equipment being commissioned ), production , processes ( for example , redesign of a work process ), procedures or control measures which may reasonably be expected to result in new or additional exposure risks
− a health monitoring report indicating an adverse result in circumstances where the baseline or previous monitoring reports for that worker did not indicate any abnormality − a HSR requests a review of control measures − the results of worker consultation indicate monitoring is required o for example , when a worker or their representative ’ s concern is confirmed , or − lowering of the workplace exposure standard where previous air monitoring results indicate levels above the new workplace exposure standard .
There are certain roles that are likely to have a high exposure to silica dust . These include ( but are not limited to ):
− shapers
− saw operators − finishers − machine operators − polishers , and − labourers / supervisors .
Air monitoring report
An air monitoring report is prepared by a competent person , such as a certified occupational hygienist and should include :
− the background and purpose of the air monitoring including the current workplace exposure standard for silica dust − the task to be measured including work patterns and hazards involved with this task − the control measures in place and their performance − what sampling and measurements were taken ( long and short-term ) including information on the calibration of the sampling equipment − specifics of how sampling was taken − how and where the samples were analysed including information on the calibration of the analysis equipment − details of the persons , or similarly exposed groups sampled − any similar exposure groups that may potentially be exposed but were not sampled − an interpretation of the results including : o sources of exposure
Managing the risks of respirable crystalline silica from engineered stone in the workplace - Code of Practice 21 of 57