Ecosphere issued with Licence for sampling & reporting inhalable dust and respirable dust, including crystalline silica

Ecosphere Science & Technology has been issued with a licence in accordance with section 158 of the Work Health & Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022, licence MLA 0018263. The activities covered by the licence include inhalable dust and respirable dust and crystalline silica. The licence requires adherence to relevant Australian Standards, internal procedures approved under the Licence and reporting under defined protocols. Monitoring can be conducted to satisfy Schedule 6, WHS(MPS) Regulations 2022, to satisfy broad WHS requirements and meet state-specific or regulatory program-specific obligations.

Silica is naturally occurring in rocks and soils, and one of the most abundant minerals found in the earths crust, with non-crystalline and crystalline forms. Workplace processes such as crushing, cutting, drilling, grinding, sawing or polishing rock, stone or man-man products containing silica can penetrate the lungs and cause irreversible lung damage. Exposure could lead to silicosis (acute, accelerated or chronic), bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, kidney damage or scleroderma.

Dust monitoring is a tool to identify health impacts associated with exposure to dust of interest to the application (e.g. mining, quarrying, tunnelling, fabrication, excavation) and determines whether workers are exposed to dust levels that exceed the relevant exposure limit. Dust monitoring programs should be developed to be representative of potential exposure and operational activities. Ecosphere develops sampling plans specific to the requirements of each site and/or project, to minimise over- or under- estimation of the risk. We are also able to provide advice, recommendations or review for monitoring programs and controls in this field.

Please get in touch to discuss your application.