scheduling blasting outside normal working hours ceasing blasting in windy conditions, and stopping other work on a site and clearing people while blasting is taking place. Housekeeping Drift from abrasive blasting can be harmful not only to workers but also to members of the public. Good housekeeping can minimise the risk of exposure. While other control measures should prevent dust escaping from the area where blasting is being done, dust or residue that does make its way into the workplace should be removed as soon as practicable after blasting has finished. This includes the surfaces in an exclusion zone. Where practicable, accumulated dust should be removed using wet cleaning methods, or High Efficiency filter vacuum methods. Because workers undertaking cleaning work may be exposed to dust levels exceeding the exposure standard, they should wear PPE. Facilities Decontamination facilities should be provided to allow workers to shower and change clothes after completing blasting. Many types of dust (particularly lead dust) may enter the body by ingestion. It is therefore important workers take care with personal hygiene by washing hands and face before eating or drinking. A clean area, separated from the blast site, should be provided for consuming food. Further guidance on the type of facilities that should be provided is available in the Code of Practice: . Personal protective equipment PPE should include: an airline respirator of the hood or helmet type, fitted with an inner bib and a high visibility shoulder cape protective clothing (a jacket or protective suit) protective gloves (canvas or leather) protective footwear, and personal hearing protectors. WHS Regulation 44 Provision to workers and use of personal protective equipment If personal protective equipment (PPE) is to be used at the workplace, as the PCBU, you must ensure that the equipment is: selected to minimise risk to health and safety, including by ensuring that the equipment is suitable for the nature of the work and any hazard associated with the work and is of suitable size and fit and reasonably comfortable for the worker who is to use or wear it maintained, repaired and replaced so that is continues to minimise risk to the worker who uses it, including by ensuring that the equipment is clean and hygienic, and in good working order. If you direct the carrying out of work, you must provide the worker with information, training and instruction in the proper use and wearing of PPE, and the storage and maintenance of PPE.
Import Bring into the jurisdiction from outside Australia. Importer (of a hazardous chemical) A person who conducts a business or undertaking that imports a substance that is a hazardous chemical that is to be used, or could reasonably be expected to be used, at a workplace. Managing risk This is a process set out in the WHS Regulations to eliminate health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable, or if this is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks so far as is reasonably practicable. It includes identifying hazards, assessing and implementing control measures, and reviewing and maintaining the control measures to ensure their ongoing effectiveness. Manufacture The activities of packing, repacking, formulating, blending, mixing, making, remaking and synthesising of the chemical. May ‘May’ indicates an optional course of action. Mixture A combination of, or a solution composed of, two or more substances that do not react with each other. Must ‘Must’ indicates a legal requirement exists that must be complied with. Officer An officer under the WHS Act includes: an officer under section 9 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) an officer of the Crown within the meaning of section 247 of the WHS Act, and an officer of a public authority within the meaning of section 252 of the WHS Act. A partner in a partnership or an elected member of a local authority is not an officer while acting in that capacity. Person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) A PCBU is an umbrella concept which intends to capture all types of working arrangements or relationships. A PCBU includes a: company unincorporated body or association sole trader or self-employed person. Individuals who are in a partnership that is conducting a business will individually and collectively be a PCBU. A volunteer association (defined under the WHS Act, see below) or elected members of a local authority will not be a PCBU.