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Dust

Departmental procedures and guidelines
Resources
Legislation and other Links

In the school environment, there are many different types of dust formed from wood, metal, synthetic fibres (e.g. fibreglass), ceramic art materials and textiles. These dusts can be created by a wide range of curriculum and maintenance activities performed by students and staff.

Dust (e.g. wood dust) can:

be an irritant that causes minor problems or
trigger allergic reactions resulting in occupational asthma, rhinitis or other forms of respiratory distress.

Dust is usually generated by mechanical processes such as sanding, grinding and sawing. Schools may not have identified the potential health effects associated with some of these processes.

Schools have an obligation to effectively manage all known risks to students and staff associated with dust exposure. The control measures must ensure that the levels of dust particles in the air do not exceed national exposure standards/limits. This is usually achieved by:

assessing products and equipment to eliminate or reduce risks
minimising the generation of dust during the process e.g. wetting down
capturing dust at the point of generation e.g. extraction system on the equipment/machine or
maintaining effective natural or mechanical ventilation systems in the room or workshop.

Particular care should also be given to possible exposure to dusts at locations visited by students on school excursions or work experience.

Departmental procedures and guidelines

Resources

Victorian Education website - Dust
WorkSafe Victoria - Wood Dust Guidance Note

Legislation and other Links

Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 - Part 3 - Obligations
Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997

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