Day 2 – Tuesday 19/02/2019

06:30 hours pre-start

07:30 site inspection and discussion

07:45 wind speed 0 to 2 m/s northerly

10:30 hours background dust levels (PM10) no work in progress 0.010 to 0.020 mg/m3

11:00 hours wind speed 0 to 2 m/s northerly

11:15 hours 4 air samplers placed at static locations along exclusion zone i.e. between work areas and hospital.

11:30 hours wind speed 0 to 2 m/s northerly – PM10 levels variable from 0.10 to 0.019 mg/m3 at 12m downwind from work in progress. Dust monitoring on approach to machines pulling trees and fencing an increase within 10m of machine o.015 to 0.0.30 mg/m3 for the current wind speed.

General instruction recommendation to project manager, all persons working within 10m of an operating machine to wear P2 dust mask as a minimum. This may be upgrade when soil is significantly disturbed and if soil has dried out.

Note 1: soil is not currently being disturbed. Work restricted to removing barbed wire and wire off fencing ahead of machine pulling fencing from the ground. Mowing north of hosptial. Note 2: the moisture in the soil is significant i.e. dust is not being readily liberated.

12:45 hours meeting all workers onsite re controls including wearing of a respiratory mask for the present level of work.

Air Monitoring Results:

Note 1:

It should be emphasised that in mixed dust situations the presence of other fibres and fibre-like particles may interfere with the interpretation of any results. The MFM does not distinguish between the different types of fibres, including organic fibres and synthetic mineral fibres.  (Guidance Note on the Membrane Filter Method for the Estimation of Airborne Asbestos Fibres, 2nd Edition, 2005 [NOHSC:3003: (2005)])

Note 2:

If the fibre count is less than 10 fibres per 100 fields the count is not significantly above that of background (Guidance Note on the Membrane Filter Method for the Estimation of Airborne Asbestos Fibres, 2nd Edition, 2005 [NOHSC:3003: (2005)]).

Note 3:

For nuisance dust, the National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) 24-hour guidance goal of 50 μg/m3 for PM10 (particulate matter with an equivalent aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less) should apply (NEPM 2003).

Guidelines for the Assessment, Remediation and Management of Asbestos-Contaminated Sites in Western Australia – May 2009

Note 4:

The physical properties which best differentiated crocidolite fibres from other types of asbestos and which had higher values determined for crocidolite fibres than those obtained for the other types, were median aspect ratio and the proportion of long thin fibres <0-2 ,um in diameter and >5 um in length.

British Journal of Industrial Medicine 1983; 40:273-279

Project classification is “mixed dust” i.e. respirable fibres that may or may not be asbestos.

Maximum PM10 measured during work in progress : 0.03 mg/m3 – (refer to note 4 above) Results for PM10s measured are satisfactory i.e. consistent with background levels upwind of the job site.

NATA Certificate of Analysis >>