Let’s delve into the new Queensland “Managing respirable crystalline silica dust exposure in construction and manufacturing of construction elements Code of Practice 2022” related to enclosed cabins.
In Appendix 1. Dictionary on Page 85. It provides a concise definition of an Enclosed Cabin: For the purpose of complying with the controls outlined in Appendix 4, fully enclosed operator cabins, such as those found on earthmoving plant have been shown to effectively control exposure to RCS when fitted with properly designed and maintained HEPA air filtration.
Relevant isolation controls include:
• enclosed cabins with windows closed at all times
• ensuring cabins remain at positive pressure
• fitting high efficiency air filtering systems (e.g. HEPA filters) to the intake and cabin
recirculation air intake of front end loaders, excavators and other machinery
• keeping personnel vehicles dust sealed and pressurized.
Appendix 4. Control Table outlines the Engineering & work practice control methods for Heavy equipment and utility vehicles and tasks. It outlines the application of water and/or dust suppressants to minimize dust emissions (Prevention) and:
Operation of equipment from within an enclosed cabin.
o Fully enclosed operator cabins, such as those found on earthmoving plants have been shown to effectively control exposure to RCS when fitted with properly designed and maintained HEPA air filtration.
Relevant isolation controls include:
o enclosed cabins with windows closed at all times
o ensuring cabins remain at positive pressure.
Fitting high-efficiency air filtering systems (e.g. HEPA filters) to the intake and cabin recirculation air intake of front end loaders, excavators, and other machinery.
ISO 23875 provides organizations with the performance requirements and test methods to achieve the above outlined controls to protect operators health!
The application of this for the construction industry is not just Queensland but globally.
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