Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00417:body:0:p26
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00417
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 66323–69231

and equipment should be checked daily by the operator for wear and damage. You should keep log books and inspection reports containing a full history of service and repairs.
Further guidance on plant is available in the Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace.

    3.5 Recycling of blast material

The recycling of blast material involves three stages - collection, cleaning and reuse of spent material that contains some useable abrasive grains. During abrasive blasting, the spent material has endured high velocity impact with the surface being cleaned, producing shattered abrasive and dust, combined with particles of the material being removed. The recycling process needs to separate these and allow the recovered abrasive to be reused efficiently and safely without an increase in dust levels. Abrasive that has become wet cannot be recycled as dust separation is not possible. It may not be possible to remove toxic chemicals such as lead paint from used abrasive and the abrasive should be disposed of in accordance with relevant environmental and waste management regulations.
Collection

Collection of the spent material from the blasting site is best done using the method that least disturbs the spent material. Vacuum recovery equipment offers the best protection for operators. Using methods that generate dust (e.g. sweeping or compressed air blowdown) should be avoided.
Cleaning

The following contaminants should be extracted before the blast material is reused:
    * oversized trash – all particles (e.g. rust, paint flakes and other foreign matter) that are
      of sufficient size to clog the blast machine metering valve or nozzle
    * toxic dust – any toxic contaminants that have been introduced or released into the media (e.g. lead from lead paint material)
    * nuisance dust – fine shattered abrasive grains
    * respirable dust – powdered material that is respirable and will penetrate to the lower respiratory system.
If abrasive blasting has been carried out on a substrate containing grains of sand (e.g. foundry castings, concrete), it may subsequently contain a significant amount of crystalline silicon dioxide in a particle size range similar to that of the spent abrasive material which is to be re-cycled. Abrasive materials used in this kind of work should not be recycled unless it can be established that the concentration of crystalline silicon dioxide remains below the allowed amount.
Reuse
The collected material will contain various contaminants (see above) as well as the reusable abrasive grains. The contaminants should be separated from the media by passing through engineered equipment including airwashes, cyclones and screens as required, before it can
be returned to the blast machine for reuse.

    3.6 Disposal of waste

To minimise risks, waste products from abrasive blasting should be covered to prevent them
from