AIOH WA Sundowner
Session information:
Topic: Fire Fighting Foams - Controversy, Concerns, Carbon Chains and Controls
Synopsis:
The past and present use of firefighting foams, in particular those that contain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), has become a highly controversial subject in Australia, attracting considerable media and political attention, class actions and community concern.
These manufactured chemicals were added to firefighting foams to improve their ability to smother fires. Over the past 50 years, the foams have been used at numerous sites around the country - including military air bases, civil airports, fire training facilities, large fuel storage terminals, road tanker fuel loading facilities, offshore and onshore oil and gas facilities, ports exporting or importing fuels, chemical storage facilities and refineries.
In some cases, the foams have found their way into adjacent water bodies where constituent chemicals have proved to be persistent, bioaccumulative and highly mobile. The foams may be released during activities such as incident response, training, maintenance, testing and waste disposal. PFAS chemicals, whether sourced from the use of firefighting foams or from many other commercial or domestic applications, are now found widely in the environment, plants, animals and in the human population.
This presentation by Barry Chesson will examine the chemistry, characteristics and application of firefighting foams, recent developments on the regulatory front in Australia, together with current knowledge and positions being adopted with respect to human health impacts, limitations, risks and future direction. One part of the presentation will touch on risk communication principles and techniques relevant to the PFAS controversy.
Session presenters
Dr Barry Chesson AM
Dr Barry Chesson AM is now a mostly-retired Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Occupational Hygiene Solutions Pty Ltd. Career highlights have included a long period as Manager-Occupational Hygiene for Alcoa’s WA Operations, a term as Senior Occupational Hygienist with Chevron’s Australian Operations, an Adjunct Associate Professor role at both Curtin University and Edith Cowan University, a stint as an UN (ILO) Expert in Environmental Toxicology and a long-term role as an Expert Member of the WA Commission for Occupational Safety and Health.
Event Summary
Date: Monday 25th February 2019
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Schedule:
5.00pm - Doors open for networking, food & drinks
6.00pm - Latest AIOH news
6.10pm – The presentation will run for approximately 50 minutes, followed by some Q&A for the remaining period.
Networking, as well as the food and drink service, will continue after the presentation.
Registration fee:
AIOH/RACI Members - $30
Non Members - $40
Full time students - $10 (student cards to be shown for entry)
Light refreshments will be served.
0.25 CM points awarded for attendance
*All prices listed are ex GST
Location:
ChemCentre Seminar Room, Ground Floor, Curtin University of Technology Resources and Chemistry Precinct,
South Wing, Building 500, Corner South Entrance Drive & Manning Road, Curtin University, Bentley
Free Parking: Enter off Manning Road. First turn right to enter car park area.
Registration
Click here to register as Member (you need to be logged in as member to receive the member rates)
Click here to register as Non member
RACI members click here to register
Contact
State Liaison Officer: Dr Barry Chesson | 0430 080 160 | barry.chesson@gmail.com
Sponsor information
ChemCentre
Stuart Rietkerk, Business Development Manager