Survey identifies high risk of exposure to airborne hazards

Two reports from the Safe Work Australia ‘National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance’ survey - used to determine the current nature and extent of Australian workers’ exposure to identified occupational disease-causing hazards - found that a high percentage of Australian workers are exposed to airborne hazards.

The first report, Exposure to dust, gases, vapours, smoke and fumes and the provision of controls for these airborne hazards in Australian workplaces, describes the percentage, demographic and employment factors of workers who are exposed to these hazards. Key findings of the report include:

• 39% of Australian workers were exposed to airborne hazards in the workplace;
• Young workers were more likely to be exposed to airborne hazards than older workers and reported longer durations of exposure;
• The industries with the highest likelihood of exposure to airborne hazards included manufacturing, transport and storage, construction and agriculture, forestry and fishing;
• Occupations with the highest likelihood of exposure to airborne hazards included technicians and trades workers, machinery operators and drivers and labourers; and
• 23% of workers who reported they were exposed to airborne hazards were not provided with any airborne hazard controls, 22% were provided with one control and 55% were provided with more than one airborne hazard control.

Safe Work Australia Chair, Tom Phillips AM, said that these findings will inform policy recommendations, the development of disease-prevention initiatives and future research in the field: “Further research is required to determine whether or not the reported exposures are hazardous for human health and whether or not control provision is adequate. There is a strong need for ongoing and improved surveillance of airborne hazard exposure in Australian workplaces to ensure everyone returns home safely from work every day.”

The second report, Vibration exposure and the provision of vibration control measures in Australian workplaces, describes Australian workers’ exposure to vibration and the workplace controls used to eliminate or reduce these. Key findings of the report include:

• 23% of exposed workers reported no vibration controls were provided;
• Only 27% of exposed workers reported receiving any training on how to prevent associated health problems;
• Small and medium-sized workplaces were less likely to provide controls;
• Males were more likely to report exposure to vibration;
• Younger workers were more likely to report exposure to vibration than older workers; and
• The main occupations where workers reported exposure to vibration were technicians, trade workers, labourers, machinery operators and drivers.

“It is concerning that around a quarter of exposed workers were not provided with workplace controls or training,” added Phillips. “These findings will be used to inform policy and regulation, and enable better targeting of work health and safety information, awareness and education of exposure to vibration.”

The National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance reports can be downloaded from www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au.