Agriculture
Many farming activities can generate airborne contaminants that may affect workers' health. These contaminants can include dusts from grain handling, harvesting, animal husbandry, soil disturbance and fertiliser use; pesticide vapours and sprays; diesel exhaust from vehicles and machinery; welding fumes and biological contaminants such as moulds, bacteria and other microorganisms found in sheds, silos, feed storage areas and animal housing.
Some of these airborne contaminants may have a workplace exposure limit (WEL) that should be considered when assessing worker exposure. Airborne contaminants may be visible, but many cannot be seen or smelt.
Because exposure is not always obvious, farmers and other persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) should regularly assess work activities, equipment, work areas and environmental conditions to identify potential airborne hazards. This is particularly important where work activities may generate airborne contaminants with established WELs or where WELs have recently changed. Seasonal conditions, weather events, harvesting activities and changes in work practices can all affect exposure levels.
What can you do?
- Talk with workers about tasks that generate dusts, fumes, mists, gases or vapours, and whether they experience symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, eye irritation or breathing difficulties during or after work.
- Inspect work areas for sources of airborne contaminants, including grain and feed handling operations, chemical mixing and spraying areas, workshops, silos, animal housing and diesel-powered equipment.
- Review product labels and safety data sheets (SDS) for hazardous chemicals used on the farm. Check whether any substances used or generated during work have an applicable WEL.
- Consider air monitoring where required or where there is uncertainty about the level of exposure. Air monitoring may assist in determining whether exposures are being adequately controlled and whether applicable WELs are likely to be exceeded.
- Seek advice from qualified professionals, such as occupational hygienists, if airborne hazards are difficult to identify or assess.
- Review existing risk assessments and exposure information where a WEL has been introduced or revised for a substance used or generated on the farm.
Identifying airborne contaminants should be an ongoing part of managing health and safety. Regularly reviewing work activities and environmental conditions can help prevent harmful exposures and protect workers, contractors, visitors and others from airborne health hazards. Where airborne contaminants have a WEL, workplaces should ensure exposure risks are appropriately assessed and controlled as part of their overall risk management process.
Resources
Safe Work Australia resources: