Dust & Silica Monitoring & Services

All employers are under a general duty to provide a safe workplace. A dusty work environment is known to be linked to chronic respiratory health issues. There are two general types of dust:

• Inhalable Dust - is the fraction of airborne material greater than 10 microns in size, which enters the nose and mouth during breathing and it is therefore liable to be deposited in the upper the repertory tract.
• Respirable Dust - is the fraction of dust particles less than 10 microns in size, which penetrates deep in the lungs where gas exchange takes place.

Silica (SiO2) is a naturally occurring widely abundant mineral that forms the major component of most rocks and soils. There are non-crystalline and crystalline forms of silicon dioxide. In dry form, only fine Crystilline silica constitutes a toxic respirable dust hazard, since its inhalation as airborne dust could give rise to silicosis. The non-crystalline form of silica does not cause this kind of lung damage.

There are recommended limits for employee exposure to inhalable and respirable dust and crystalline silica. If it is suspected that employees may be exposed to excessive dust levels, monitoring will confirm the exposure and assist in identifying problem locations and developing control strategies.

HAZCON can assist you to:

• Conduct personal inhalable and respirable monitoring to assess your employees' individual or Similar Exposure Groups (SEGs) dust exposure.

• Conduct static (fixed) inhalable and respirable monitoring at strategic locations to assess environmental dust levels.
• Conduct real time (process specific) measurements of dust concentration using a Dust-Trak monitoring instrument, to determine dust levels generated by specific processes or movements in the workplace.
• Analyses of samples for respirable silica.
• Guide you as to what action is required to reduce or eliminate dust levels to healthy and acceptable levels in your workplace.
• Provide advice on required respiratory  protection available and the type most suitable for the occupation and/or environment.

All of HAZCONs activities and recommendations are undertaken in compliance with appropriate Victorian Legislation, Australian Standards and best practice. Dust monitoring is carried out in accordance with the:

• AS 2985-2009 Workplace atmospheres - Method for sampling and gravimetric determination of respirable dust;
• AS 3640-2009 Workplace atmospheres - Method for sampling and gravimetric determination of inhalable dust;
• Adopted National Exposure Standards For Atmospheric Contaminants In The Occupational Environment NOHSC: 1003 (1995);
• Safe Work Australia Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment, Guidance Note NOHSC: 3008(1995], National Exposure Standards NOHSC: 1003(1995) May 1995; and
• Safe Work Australia, Guidance on the Interpretation of Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants, 2012.

If you would like more information or a quote for dust assessment please Contact Us

Hygiene monitoring encompasses a host of areas that HAZCON has specific expertise, including;

Asbestos Air Monitoring

Synthetic Mineral Fibre (SMF) Monitoring

Occupational Hygiene Monitoring

Biaerosol (Mould, Fungi) Sampling