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Safety Matters - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

Safety Matters - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

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<strong>Safety</strong> Equipment<br />

There are regulations specifying the correct safety equipment you must<br />

use when h<strong>and</strong>ling hazardous materials.<br />

Example:<br />

Eye <strong>and</strong> face protection (goggles <strong>and</strong> face shield)<br />

Breathing canisters<br />

Protective clothing (gloves, overalls, boots)<br />

Consult the Material <strong>Safety</strong> Data Sheets for this information.<br />

Exposure st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong> air monitoring<br />

The Hazardous Substances Regulation requires employers (<strong>and</strong> the selfemployed)<br />

to control exposure to ensure that the exposure <strong>of</strong> an employee,<br />

or other persons at the workplace to hazardous substances is prevented, or if<br />

that is not practicable, minimised.<br />

Clause 51<strong>of</strong> the <strong>NSW</strong> OHS regulation states that the employer must ensure<br />

that no person at a place <strong>of</strong> work is exposed to an airborne concentration<br />

<strong>of</strong> an atmospheric contaminant that exceeds or breeches a st<strong>and</strong>ard<br />

referred to in the Worksafe Australia publication Exposure St<strong>and</strong>ards<br />

for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment. This<br />

is relevant where inhalation is the main route <strong>of</strong> entry. The exposure<br />

st<strong>and</strong>ard is also given in the MSDS, if a st<strong>and</strong>ard has been allocated.<br />

If spraying produces particles in the air, like vapours or aerosols, then when<br />

doing a risk assessment it may be appropriate to assume that the airborne<br />

exposure st<strong>and</strong>ard is likely to be exceeded <strong>and</strong> that control measures such as<br />

respirators or other PPE are necessary..<br />

If there is uncertainty about risks, it may be necessary to measure airborne<br />

concentrations <strong>and</strong> compare these with the m<strong>and</strong>atory exposure st<strong>and</strong>ards.<br />

This may be useful for fixed locations such as indoors or situations <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>flabel<br />

use. Care must be taken when applying these to outdoor situations<br />

where conditions are variable, such as changes in the wind.<br />

Personal protective equipment (PPE) for exposure to chemicals<br />

PPE should only be relied upon where it is not possible to control exposure<br />

by one or more <strong>of</strong> the above measures. PPE should be used:<br />

<strong>Safety</strong> <strong>Matters</strong> A Guide for Workplace OHS Representatives<br />

SECTION FOUR<br />

RAIL<br />

TRAM AND BUS<br />

69<br />

OHS Factsheets<br />

U N<br />

I O N

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