Transcript Document

Considerations to take when developing Work Package Plans for work activities in Areas with Ballast Dust
Underlying Principle
Do not be in an area where ballast dust is present unless your work
duties requires you to be there
Considerations at
LDC / Local Distribution Centre:
•Use of ballast with low dust characteristic
• eg. “fines” washed out
•Quality control testing of ballast
•Machine operators to work with windows and
doors on plant closed
•Minimise the height from which ballast is
unloaded from buckets into rail wagons or stock
piles
•Understanding where the ballast has been taken
from the stockpile – e.g. if from the base then
“fines” content is likely to be higher
•Damping down of access roads, stock piles and
departing wagons on identified high risk days
with unfavourable conditions such as hot and dry
days
•As identified by risk assessment wear
appropriate respiratory protective equipment
BDWG/SSoW/001
Considerations at Site:
•Move away from the area if you are not involved
in the task
•Have clearly identified areas where dust is not
present for welfare breaks
•Consider management of breaks and other work
activities around the planned dropping or
disturbance of ballast
•Consider the impact of neighbouring work
activities and how these can create ballast dust
•Would it be appropriate given weather and track
bed conditions as to whether damping down on
site would help resolve any dust conditions while
also not importing any other risks?
•Do not rush unloading ballast – increased speed of
delivery, results in greater dust creation
•Always unload ballast from the lowest height
possible
•Use respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
provided by your employer as specified in the site
specific risk assessment/work package plan
Issue 3
23/10/2012