Australasian Mine Safety is the leading voice for all key decision makers within Mining company's and major contractors. Delivering the latest industry news as it breaks.
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/36597
OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENISTS OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE IN THE MINING INDUSTRY Ongoing Challenges By Jarrod Wilson, B.App.Sc(OHS) Principal Consultant, Occupational Health and Hygiene Australian Safety + Training Alliance What is Occupational Hygiene? Occupational hygiene is generally defined as the art and science dedicated to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, communication and control of environmental stressors in, or arising from, the work place that may result in injury, illness, impairment, or affect the well being of workers and members of the community. These stressors are divided into the categories biological, chemical, physical, ergonomic and psychosocial. Why is it needed? Following a review of the Queensland Mines Inspectorate (QMI) in 2005,the Queensland Mining Health Improvement and Awareness Committee (HIAC) was established to assist industry anticipate, identify, evaluate and control health hazards in the mining environment by placing a greater emphasis on worker health and the prevention of illness and disease. The committee suggests that health and safety management efforts in mining have traditionally focused on the safety aspects. This is often because the outcomes of safety hazards are usually immediate and the consequences are visually graphic). In most cases these hazards are well understood and easily recognised. In contrast, the outcomes of health hazards may be progressive and not realised until it is too late. Occupational Health and Hygiene Hazards in Mines Occupational Health and Hygiene hazards in mines are as wide ranging as is the multi- disciplinary nature of the industry during the typical life cycle of a mine from exploration, mine development and operation to decommissioning and land rehabilitation. However, Occupational Health and Hygiene Hazards which may affect most mining operations, regardless of their type and stage in the life cycle include; Crystalline silica has long been a serious hazard in mining. Engineering controls such as wet techniques, ventilation, enclosed cabins and the use of respiratory protection have largely controlled silicosis. Vigilance is required to ensure exposures to dust and crystalline silica remain effectively controlled via the implementation of an ongoing exposure monitoring program and health surveillance. Noise is almost ubiquitous in mining. Controlling noise has proven difficult in mining and noise-induced hearing loss remains common. Safe Work Australia (SWA) has reported in the Compendium of Workers’ Compensation Statistics Australia 2008–09 that long term exposure to noise accounted for 10 per cent of workers compensation claims. Data from the Department of Mines in WA indicates a figure of 34 per cent, however this figure is for disabling injuries which is a work injury (not LTI) that results in the injured person being unable to fully perform his or her ordinary occupation. Although mining has become increasingly mechanised, there is still a substantial amount of manual handling. SWA has reported that the most common cause of serious claims in the mining industry in 2008–09 was muscular stress associated with manual handling and ergonomic factors, accounting for 27 per cent of all serious claims. A review of the most recent Lost Time Injury (LTI) statistics from regulatory authorities for mines in Qld, NSW, WA and NT have also indicated that muscular stress related injuries relating to manual handling and ergonomics issues account for up to 20 per cent of all LTIs. Hazardous substances and dangerous goods used in mines ranges from the use of highly toxic substances such as hydrofluoric acid and cyanide through to the wide range of fuels, lubricants, solvents and other substances used in workshops and in other ancillary processes. Recent LTI statistics indicates that up to 6 per cent of all LTIs are due to single contact with a chemical substance. Whole body vibration is commonly experienced whilst operating mobile equipment, this can cause or exacerbate pre- existing spinal disorders. Poorly maintained roads and vehicles contribute to the problem. Hand–arm vibration syndrome is also encountered with the use of vibrating tools. Where to from Here? In 2009 a submission was made to inform Safe Work Australia (SWA) regarding the National Mine Safety Framework (NMSF) steering group’s plan to achieve a nationally consistent (OHS) regime for the Australian mining industry, which would incorporate the principles of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 176: Safety and Health in Mines. This reflects the push towards OHS harmonisation which started in 2008, when Workplace Relations Ministers from around Australia agreed to nationally harmonise (WHS) laws which are currently being developed by SWA. Whilst the NMSF will focus on the development of mining specific OHS legislative framework, a number of the draft model Codes of Practice developed by SWA may prove beneficial in managing occupational health and hygiene risks in the mining industry. The draft codes can be found at; http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/Legislation/ PublicComment/Pages/PublicComment.aspx 98 AUSTRALASIAN MINE SAFETY JOURNAL