Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00417:body:0:p16
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00417
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 39829–42743

blast cleaning.
You should also consider cleaning techniques that do not involve blasting, particularly for smaller jobs. These include:
    * chemical strippers
    * heat guns
    * power tools with dust collection systems
    * manual sanding
    * scraping.
Although these techniques should generate low levels of dust, and therefore generally present lower risks to workers than abrasive blasting, other risks involved in using such techniques still need to be assessed and controlled.

Isolation and engineering controls
Abrasive blasting should be carried out in a blasting cabinet or blasting chamber where practicable.
Blasting cabinets

These are suitable for blasting small objects. The cabinet (see Figure 1) is fully sealed and the operator manipulates the work piece and the blasting hose from outside, viewing the object through a sealed window.

When using a properly designed and maintained cabinet, there is no need to wear a respiratory device. However, a low toxicity abrasive should still be used as poor maintenance of the cabinet may expose workers to dust.

Figure 1 Blasting cabinet

Blasting chambers

Blasting chambers (also known as blast rooms – see Figure 2) should be used for cleaning transportable objects that are too large to be treated inside a blasting cabinet.

Blasting is done manually by operators working inside the chamber. Operators working inside blasting chambers must wear a hood or helmet type airline respirator which should be fitted with an inner bib and a high visibility shoulder cape, jacket or protective suit. Further information on hood or helmet type airline respirators can be found in AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices. The necessary capacity of any air service for respiratory protection should be calculated on a minimum requirement of 170 litres per minute continuous flow for each person, measured at the regulator. Where air cooling or encapsulated suits are used additional air will be required and advice should be sought from a competent person. Further information on quality of breathing
air can be found in AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment.
Figure 2 Blasting chamber

Temporary enclosures

Temporary enclosures should be used when the object or structure to be blasted is unable to
be transported or too large for a blasting chamber. Temporary enclosure should also be used
for fixed structures such as bridges or water tanks.
Where monitoring indicates that persons in surrounding areas may be exposed to dust levels
in excess of the exposure standards, they should be excluded from the area where possible
by warning signs and barricading, or provided with PPE.
Regardless of the control measures chosen, you must ensure that no-one at the workplace is exposed to dust levels in an airborne concentration that exceeds the relevant exposure standard.

Further information on blasting