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Occupational Exposures

The control of employee exposures and a reduction of occupational illnesses are the thrust of our approach to occupational health management. Our aim, consistent with the ‘hierarchy of control’ approach, is to remove or avoid hazards through engineering or design solutions wherever possible.

The ‘hierarchy of control’ approach uses methods to decrease the exposure source itself or to minimise the potential amount of employee contact. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is utilised where this approach is yet to be implemented or is not currently feasible.

While we seek to eliminate or minimise hazards wherever possible, it is equally important to fully understand the nature of our occupational exposure hazards where they do occur. To date, therefore, our occupational health targets have been focused on establishing baseline data on occupational exposure hazards and the consequent establishment of occupational hygiene monitoring and health surveillance programs.

Where engineering controls are not practicable, we make every effort to protect all employees potentially exposed from any adverse health effect through the use of PPE. It should be noted that all exposures monitored are potential exposures and do not take into consideration the use of PPE where utilised to mitigate exposure.

The drive within the Company is to progressively reduce exposures over time. The graph below illustrates potential employee exposures expressed as a percentage of the workforce, if not for the use of PPE, recorded during the reporting period.

As the graph illustrates, we focus on three distinct categories for our exposure measurement data. These are:

• potential exposure of employees above the occupational exposure limit (OEL) for noise (85 dBA 8-hour time-weighted average)
• potential exposure of employees above the OEL for other exposures
• potential exposure of employees above the action level (50 per cent of the OEL exposure limit) but below the OEL for other exposures.

We have established the requirement for reporting potential exposures above action levels but below occupational exposure limits to give us an understanding of the potential for harm and to enable us to establish proactive plans to mitigate exposures.

At levels above the occupational exposure limits, it is understood that harmful effects on health may eventually occur in a proportion of individuals if they are not adequately protected. While all operations provide PPE and other measures to reduce exposure, the reporting on employees in this category gives the Company a clear understanding of the exposures that need to be reduced to further minimise the chance of adverse health outcomes. The reporting of these two categories allows the tracking of our efforts to reduce on-site exposures over time and consequently reduce the incidence of occupational illness.

When compared to the previous period, potential exposures to noise, if not for the use of PPE, have decreased by six per cent across the Company from the previous year. Our focus will be to continue to improve these figures by maintaining a focus on controls to noise exposure that can be implemented. During the year a specific Community of Practice was developed for noise to further enhance work in this area. One outcome of this was the development of a “Buy Quiet” Guideline to assist operations to purchase equipment with the lowest practicable noise levels.

For exposures other than noise the exposure data is set against our Company-wide Exposure Standards that, in many cases, are more stringent than local regulations and reporting processes, and set a lower baseline target throughout the Company.

For potential exposures other than noise, there has been a ten per cent decrease in exposures, compared to the 2003/04 baseline and if not for the use of PPE, and expressed as a percentage of employees. This is a result of our concerted effort to reduce these exposures over time. We will continue our focus on this challenge to further improve these figures.

One of the key areas in exposure reduction has been in the area of potential exposure to substances that may cause cancer. In the previous year we reported on the Diesel Particulate Initiative that developed from work conducted at the Illawarra Coal business. This initiative, which focuses on reducing exposure to diesel exhaust fume, has been taken to underground mining operations in the Company where the potential for exposure is highest.

We have also initiated a research program with an external manufacturer to explore technology to further reduce acid mist exposure that occurs in some of our metal processing plants. Sulphuric acid mist is regarded as a potential cancer-causing substance if exposure is too high; and, if successful, this technology will reduce the potential exposure dramatically.

Other principal exposures include those related to dust, heat, vibration and welding fumes. Vibration exposures mainly occur in drivers of earthmoving equipment and in the longer term may result in back injury or pain. In addition to other health and safety modifications, we have continued to work to reduce vibration exposures as part of our strategic alliance with Caterpillar, our major earthmoving equipment supplier.

BHP Billiton is also supporting the Australian Garvan Institute of Medical Research’s project to investigate whether adult stem cells can be used to replace hair cells in the inner ear that has been damaged by sustained exposure to noise. Noise-induced hearing loss is a significant issue for BHP Billiton.

In line with our current health target, occupational exposure baselines have been established and occupational hygiene programs are being implemented. Over the reporting period we reviewed our health targets to further focus on reducing the number of people potentially exposed above the occupational exposure limit.

A number of our operations have been progressing initiatives to better understand and reduce occupational exposures. Refer to the following for examples of our policy in action:

• As part of a comprehensive biological monitoring program in Nickel West's operations, Kwinana Nickel Refinery undertook a study to determine baseline levels of ingested nickel in employees and contractors. The study is the first of its kind to be conducted in the international nickel industry. Read more: Health>Case Studies>Health Management
• A team at our Ingwe Khutala Colliery developed a digital noise-level display board that displays real-time noise levels in the main workshop. Employees are now more aware of the noise they create during their work activities, and they work to keep noise levels below 85 dB. Read more: Our Performance>Recognition>Employee HSEC Awards>Health Awards.
• Our Mozal Aluminium smelter developed a filter from waste material to mitigate fluorinated dust and noise generated during the metal ladle lifting beam test process. Read more: Our Performance>Recognition>Employee HSEC Awards>Health Awards.