Edition 81, August 2010

Safework Australia report on exposure to dust, gases, vapours, smoke and fumes

Safework Australia report on exposure to dust, gases, vapours, smoke and fumesSafe Work Australia has released two reports from the National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance survey, which is used to determine the current nature and extent of Australian workers' exposure to identified occupational disease causing hazards.

The first of the reports, Exposure to dust, gases, vapours, smoke and fumes and the provision of controls for these airborne hazards in Australian workplaces focuses on the exposure of Australian workers to dust, gases, vapours, smoke and fumes and the control measures that are provided in workplaces that eliminate, reduce or control worker exposure to these airborne hazards.

Airborne hazards in the workplace, such as dusts, gases, vapours, smoke and fumes have the potential to cause or exacerbate a range of serious respiratory diseases. These include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asbestosis and cancers of the respiratory system such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. The list of agents of respiratory disease is increasing as a result of improving knowledge and constant changes in industrial processes and materials. Due to the long latency of many respiratory diseases it is essential that workers' exposure to dusts, gases, vapours, smoke and fumes are minimised. Undertaking monitoring on a regular basis will facilitate the identification of workers at risk of developing respiratory diseases and enable occupational health and safety (OHS) / workplace health and safety (WHS) and workers' compensation policies to be targeted effectively. In the long-term, it is hoped that this process will reduce the burden of work-related respiratory diseases and contribute to fulfilling the aspiration of Australian workplaces being free of injury and disease.

In 2008, the National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance (NHEWS) survey was developed to determine Australian workers' current levels of exposure to various workplaces hazards, including their exposure to the airborne hazards dust, gases, vapours, smoke and fumes. In particular, workers were asked how long they were exposed for and what types of dusts, gases, vapours, smoke or fumes they were exposed to. Workers were also asked to indicate whether or not particular types of airborne hazard controls (masks, respirators, ventilation systems or reducing exposure time) were provided in their workplaces. Alongside the exposure and controls data, the NHEWS survey also collected detailed demographic and employment information.

This report contains the findings of a detailed analysis of the data on airborne hazards. Statistical tests (logistic regressions) were performed to investigate what demographic and employment factors affected the likelihood that a worker reported they were exposed to dust and/or gases, vapours, smoke or fumes. Logistic regressions were also used to determine what demographic, employment and exposure factors affected the likelihood workers were provided with some types of airborne hazard control. In order to model exposure, the types of airborne hazards workers reported exposures to were grouped in the broadest categories (as surveyed); dust; and gases, vapours, smoke or fumes. Workers were either exposed to these types of airborne hazard on their own or they were exposed to both dust and gases, vapours, smoke or fumes. Descriptive statistics were used to describe, in more detail, the different types of airborne hazard workers reported exposure to.

The main findings of the report are outlined below:

• 39% of Australian workers were exposed to airborne hazards in the workplace
• Young workers were more likely to be exposed to airborne hazards than older workers, reported longer durations of exposure and had the highest representation in six of the 11 airborne hazard types
• Industries with the highest likelihoods of exposure to airborne hazards included: manufacturing, transport & storage, construction and agriculture, forestry & fishing
• Occupations with the highest likelihoods of exposure to airborne hazards included: Technicians & trades workers, Machinery operators & drivers and labourers
• 23% of workers who reported they were exposed to airborne hazards were not provided with any airborne hazard controls. 22% were provided with one control and 55% were provided with more than one airborne hazard control.
• The industries that were least likely to provide more than one airborne hazard control included: transport & storage, agriculture, forestry & fishing and education
• Further research is required to determine whether or not the reported exposures are hazardous for human health and whether or not control provision is adequate
• Ongoing and improved surveillance of airborne hazard exposure is recommended

To view the report visit www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
The information in this article has been sourced from Safe Work Australia www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

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