Exposure to airborne respirable dust causes health hazards such as silicosis, black lung disease and lung cancer. Numerous natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) activities can increase dust exposure in Brisbane. In Brisbane and greater South East Queensland, (including Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and Logan City) major contributors include:
- Quarrying – rock and sand extraction
- Civil construction
- Land development and clearing
- Mining and extractive industries
- Rural – small crops, cane, and livestock
Global Road Technology (GRT) is based in SE Queensland and services Brisbane as a key market. GRT provides dust control in Brisbane on many of the key infrastructure projects including Queensland and Brisbane’s largest projects in the last decade, the Cross River Rail Project and the Brisbane Airport New Parallel Runway Project. GRT also has a major focus on mining and services mines all across Australia. Mining operations are notable with respect to:
- Dust generated
- The extent of the area impacted.
- Toxicity of airborne dust contaminants associated with dust emissions
Dust control Brisbane – background information
Dust control has the dual purpose of cleaning the air and protecting people’s health. The Queensland Government, measures dustfall using a dustfall deposit gauge to determine if a particle source is causing unacceptable dust nuisance in surrounding areas. Chemical analysis of the collected dust can help identify pollutants and locate likely emission sources.
Global Road Technology (GRT) are specialists in dust control. Our sole mandate is to deal with dust at its source. We are an international, engineering technology company focusing on providing innovative products and solutions for mining, civil construction, renewable energy, oil and gas, and rural sectors.
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) reports that over the past 11 years, the minerals and energy sector have generated $751 billion in value and 1 in 6 jobs. This projected upward trend in Queensland’s prosperity should be complemented with dust control measures that deal with the legacy of dust diseases in Queensland. GRT’s industry-leading dust control technologies are proven to drive process efficiency, deliver sustainable infrastructure outcomes, and improve occupational and non-occupational health and safety.
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GRT’s dust control applications
Mining – We offer site-specific dust control and process management at every stage of the mining operation. Our goal is to end dust as a mine site hazard. Our dust control offerings are designed to provide comprehensive, pit to port mine site solutions to ensure workers, communities, nearby farmers, and the environment aren’t negatively impacted by mining activity. The specific mining applications include drill and blast, haul road management, drill & blast, long term roads, LV and yard dust control, underground, transfer and processing, broadscale dust and erosion control and transport to the destination.
Products: GRT: Haul-Loc, GRT: ACTIVATE, GRT: 12X, GRT: DC Binder, GRT: Wet-Loc.
Civil construction – GRT’s pioneering products for soil and pavement stabilization, dust and erosion control, and site water management solutions make civil and land development construction faster, greener and leaner. On site windborne dust is an environmental as well as health and safety hazard that can easily spread to surrounding land users, invariably leading to public complaints. GRT’s innovative solutions bind soil particles together into a durable, surface layer, resistant to wind and water erosion. Construction yards, truck, pipe and logisitics yards are also covered.
Products: GRT: Enviro-Binder, GRT: Haul-Loc, GRT: Soil-Loc, GRT7000, GRT: Wet-Loc.
Renewable energy – Committed to environmentally sustainable practice, GRT’s soil stabilization and dust control products, processes and services are both ideologically and practically suited to the global renewable energy sector. Accumulated dust on the surface of solar panels can reduce a system’s efficiency by up to 50%. That is why, polymer sealing and dust suppression from GRT products is key to creating a protective layer that maintains surface integrity and practically eliminates dust at its source. The biggest challenges associated with these kinds of remote facilities are access to quality construction materials and cost-effective maintenance strategies. Typically, these issues lead to costly repairs and the problem of dust generation from unsealed surfaces.
Products: GRT: Enviro-Binder, GRT: Haul-Loc, GRT: Soil-Loc, GRT7000.
Oil and gas – GRT’s environmentally friendly soil stabilization and dust control solutions assist oil and gas companies to achieve maximum efficiency with minimum environmental impact. There are a wide range of oil and gas applications that GRT products offer. GRT has a variety of revolutionary polymer products and processes to stabilize, seal or manage dust on these access roads. Hardstand areas, such as lay down yards, camps and drill and well pads, form the focal point of activities related to oil and natural gas extraction. GRT’s soil stabilization and dust control technologies ensure the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution.
Products: GRT7000, GRT: Wet-Loc, GRT: Enviro-Binder, GRT: Haul-Loc, GRT: Soil-Loc.
Rural – managing dust on farms with synthetic GRT products is now the simple and effective way of reducing the risk of crop and fruit damage, respiratory disease, eye irritation, and product contamination. Produce, livestock and the rural workforce are exposed to dust which can result in reduced crop yields, discontented stock and lung diseases respectively. Polymeric GRT products have been developed to effectively eliminate dust at its source by providing exceptional surface coating solutions for farm access tracks.
Products: GRT: Wet-Loc, GRT: Enviro-Binder, GRT: Soil-Loc, GRT5000.
Case Study: GRT’s dust control project in Brisbane
The New Parallel Runway at Brisbane Airport has been one of our recent dust control project in Brisbane – and certainly the biggest in scope. Dust control services were rendered through wind and erosion control and surface stabilization using GRT: Enviro-Binder. Brisbane’s new runway is considered as Australia’s largest aviation construction project to date and a key piece of infrastructure that is helping enable continued growth of Brisbane as well as becoming one of Australia’s most crucial domestic and international transfer point. GRT conducted an assessment on the projected runway site to determine the most suitable product/s considering both environmental and economic impact. GRT adopted the methodology of stopping erosion at its source, instead of catching sediment.
The GRT: Enviro-Binder treated runway and associated construction sites delivered high performing results that were expected from the product. The flexibility of the product is in adaptability for varying erosion/dust risk which is achieved through varying dilution between 0.02 and 0.2 liters per square meter. GRT is always ready to supply and apply effective dust control products that consider all project requirements as well as the challenges and environmental concerns.
Engineered Dust Control Solutions
GRT’s foundation is engineering excellence and innovation. With highly experienced chartered engineers forming the core of our team, GRT can develop efficient, practical, site-specific solutions across mining, civil, environmental, and geotechnical disciplines. Are you in need of a dust control management plan? Is dust a challenge on your site? Speak to Daniel Grundy today, he is ready to visit your site, provide a site assessment and provide recommendations on which product from the GRT Product Portfolio would eliminate all your dust-related challenges and concerns.
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