Event Details

Direct-reading dust monitoring instruments (DRDMI) provide real-time airborne dust measurements, enabling rapid identification of dust sources, control failures, and emerging exposure risks.

Direct-reading dust monitoring instruments (DRDMI) provide real-time airborne dust measurements, enabling rapid identification of dust sources, control failures, and emerging exposure risks. However, reliable use of DRDMI requires appropriate calibration to the dust being measured and competent interpretation of results.

This session will discuss the uncertainty associated with real-time dust monitoring, the importance of site specific calibration, and emerging guidance to improve measurement reliability and support better workplace exposure management decisions.

As a prelude, to the presentation, Dr Brian Davies AM will be talking about Aerosols and how they impact on the use of DRDMI

Abstract

Introduction

Air quality monitoring is essential for compliance with Australian WHS legislation and for implementing effective controls to reduce worker exposure to airborne contaminants. Traditional respirable dust monitoring relies on personal or static sampling with laboratory analysis, often resulting in delays of days or weeks before results are available. These delays can prolong worker exposure to hazardous dusts before corrective actions are taken. Direct-reading dust monitoring instruments (DRDMI) provide real-time airborne dust measurements, enabling rapid identification of dust sources, control failures, and emerging exposure risks. However, reliable use of DRDMI requires appropriate calibration to the dust being measured and competent interpretation of results.

Methods

Researchers from the University of Wollongong (UOW) and DEAS Pty Ltd developed and validated the ROTADUST® and ROTADOME® dust-generation system to improve the reliability of DRDMI measurements in workplaces containing respirable dust. The system disperses dust in a controlled environment, allowing simultaneous sampling using DRDMI and the reference method described in AS 2985:2009, with gravimetric analysis.

Results

The study confirmed that DRDMI require site-specific calibration factors when measuring dusts that are differ from the manufacturer’s calibration material, typically Arizona Road Dust (ARD). Using the ROTADUST® and ROTADOME® system, calibration factors can be developed for workplace-specific dusts, improving the accuracy of real-time monitoring. In a proof-of-concept trial, two DRDMI were compared with the AS 2985:2009 reference method. One instrument required a correction factor of 0.99, while the second required a factor of 5.7, indicating that uncalibrated instruments may significantly underestimate airborne dust concentrations.

Conclusions

The UOW research demonstrated that the ROTADUST® and ROTADOME® system can be used to generate reliable calibration factors for DRDMI, improving the accuracy of real-time dust monitoring and workplace risk assessments. The findings highlight the limitations of relying on factory calibrations and emphasise the importance of site-specific calibration to reduce measurement uncertainty and support effective exposure control strategies. Industry guidance based on this research is being developed in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH).

Location

University of Wollongong

Venue is Building 29 room 111.

Date & Time

Monday 14th September

5.00PM onwards

Cost & Inclusions

Member; $15.00

Non Member: $25.00

AIOH Students $10.00 proof of enrolment upon entry

Light Catering and Beverage tab

Carmen Naylor

Mobile 0472 808 490