Quarry Workers Exposed to Dangerous Silicosis Causing Dust

Recent news reports highlight the dangers for quarry workers across Australia being exposed to dangerous particles capable of causing the irreversible lifelong lung disease silicosis, highlighting the need to follow the guidelines around exposure limits to protect workers.

Fresh from a successful keynote presentation at the 22nd Annual Australian Longwall Mining Conference dust suppression specialists Global Road Technology  (GRT) and its Australian exclusive distribution partner TotalEnergies Marketing Australia used this platform to highlight the need for continued high-levels of vigilance across the resource sector when it comes to dust exposure limits. 

According to GRT CEO Troy Adams, the conference provided an important opportunity to reiterate the need for the mining sector to adhere to the rules around exposure limits for dust in quarries, open cut mines and underground mines and outline how GRT’s products and services can safeguard the health and safety of workers. 

“We thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to showcase with our partners at TotalEnergies Marketing Australia our industry proven solutions to prevent excessive dust generation within the resources sector by using our products and methodology to engineer out these deadly workplace hazards,” said Mr Adams. 

“Integrated dust management strategies in quarries and mining operations requires a strong focus on limiting exposure times, measuring particulate pollution, utilising this data to inform targeted control methods and ensuring that workers are trained to recognise and understand risks. GRT’s and TotalEnergies proven implementation strategies, product and hardware solutions, provides a four step framework around; understanding the problem, quantifying the impacts – get data, doing something – implementing engineered dust suppression solutions and measuring performance and continual improvement.” said TotalEnergies Marketing Australia National Mining Manager, Mr Andrew Druwitt.

GRT’s innovative product suite of dust suppression non-toxic chemical applications twinned with its engineered dosing and application techniques has seen it emerge as a national leader in the development of infrastructure and process solutions for the global markets, and sees it well-placed to capitalise on this growth. 

Its range of innovative products and techniques reduces the dust pollution generated by onsite industrial activity like drilling and stops the dust from spreading across the site and into local communities.

Evidence of GRT’s philosophy of providing ‘whole-of-site’ dust solutions is how it has designed eco-friendly polymer based products like GRT: Haul-Loc and GRT: Activate that dovetail into these autonomous systems to deliver effective dust control and provide critical data to our customers useful and actionable data. These products are far more effective in stopping particulate pollution than water alone.  

Its products and techniques are designed to mitigate dust at its source to ensure that only minimal amounts of particulates reach workers – to the point where protective clothing and masks can safely deal with the remaining trace particles. 

According to Mr Adams the key for the industry going forward is the need for employers to stay informed about the relevant standards, codes of practice and compliance requirements around adhering to exposure limits is critical.

“At GRT we have developed our entire dust suppression offering around empowering the resource sector with the tools to implement effective control measures, and give them the ability through our technology to monitor dust levels to protect the health and safety of workers,” Mr Adams said. 

“Our single goal is to ensure that news headlines around workers being exposed to dangerous silica dust gradually become a thing of the past as we raise the safety levels of the entire industry through our product suite and offering.” 

 About GRT:   

GRT is an Australian-owned company with an international footprint that provides revolutionary solutions to deliver better and safer infrastructure and operational outcomes across the roads, resources, and rural sectors.

GRT products and applications have been developed by their team of engineers and scientists, working in partnership with leading industry and academic institutions. GRT’s technology can be applied across a broad range of materials and environments to create durable, safe, and sustainable infrastructure and operations.

 Visit globalroadtechnology.com for further information about the company and its products.

About TotalEnergies Marketing Australia 

TotalEnergies has been present in Australia for more than 50 years, with an ambition to be a world-class player in the energy transition.

It is fully integrated in all sectors of the energy business. From 2022, its businesses include Exploration & Production (E&P), SunPower, Total Eren, SAFT and Marketing and services (M&S).

TotalEnergies Marketing Australia (M&S Lubricants Division) focuses on key direct lubricant markets including Mining, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), Power Generation and Special Fluids.

TotalEnergies E&P is currently a partner in two major Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects; Ichthys LNG and Gladstone LNG.

Total Eren developed a highly innovative utility-scale solar farm, leading the Australian renewable energy market as it transitions to a low-carbon, high renewables economy.

Visit totalenergies.com.au/ for further information about the company and its products.

Dust suppression is a critical issue in the world of mining and resources.

Learn more about GRT’s industry-leading and IoT-connected SMART Dosing Units, and discover how we’re driving better dust suppression solutions for all!

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