Respiratory Protection for Health Care Workers: Meet the Experts
Presenter(s): Jane L. Whitelaw, Kate Cole, Dr Suzi Nou, Mark Reggers, Alex Birrell & Graeme Powe
The last 6 months has seen a rapid increase in awareness of the role of respiratory protection for health care workers. Â With over 3500 health workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Victoria, and the majority acquiring it from the workplace, the question about the adequacy of respiratory protection has justifiably arisen.
There has been ongoing concern regarding supply and quality of disposable respirators. Â Many industries in Australia and health settings overseas have implemented the use of air purifying respirators (APRs) and powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs). Â Widespread implementation of these in Australian healthcare settings is yet to be seen.
Many reasons have been provided for this lack of implementation, such as respirators not being fit for use in healthcare settings and particularly around cleaning and safe handling of respirators.
This interactive webinar is an opportunity to meet the experts behind the three most common reusable products and ask your questions.
Recorded 19 April 2024
Update on mould - the Qld regulators perspective - 19 April 24 This webinar will include topics including: Legislative requirements in relation to managing the risks of exposure to mould. What does compliance look like? What would the inspectorate look for in relation to a complaint?
Isocyanate Resins Exposure Monitoring- 22nd March 24 Isocyanate-based polymeric chemicals are used extensively in mining and construction to fill cavities and reinforce or stabilise strata in the underground environment. Methylene diphenyl isocyanate (MDI) is a common ingredient and is a known respiratory sensitiser and skin allergen which can be inhaled or absorbed through direct skin contact. RSHQ has been investigating the adequacy of current atmospheric and biological monitoring techniques.
Winner - 2023 AIOH Conference 3M Best Paper Award.
This paper discusses the controversy over the use of the linear non-threshold (LNT) model and presents the case for the existence of a threshold of effect for both asbestos and crystalline silica. The existence of threshold affect does not support the suggested need to further reduce the current OELs for these substances and others. Presented by Ian Firth
The presentation by Dr Rebecca Newton, Manager, Chemicals, Occupational Hygiene and High Risk Work Policy, will cover the Safe Work Australia review of the Workplace Exposure Standards and the next steps.
This webinar will provide an update on the ISO Respiratory Protective Devices Standards, bringing this global Standard back to home.
Standards are used to demonstrate conformance to local regulations / laws. There is a new set of globally harmonised standards for respiratory protective devices (RPD) that changes the focus from performance by design to performance required by the wearer. The work on these standards started more than 20 years ago; with several RPD standards already published.
The webinar will cover some of the new developments and some older concepts that are new to occupational health safety and hygiene that we can use when considering skin exposure in the workplace.
The Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) launched Breathe Freely Australia in 2018, which provides readily available information for workers and supervisors about the hazards of toxic dust and prevention of lung diseases in various industries. In 2020, the AIOH started the RESP-FIT program, which is relevant to those who rely on respirators as protection against harmful dust. As many lung diseases are serious and irreversible, the focus must be on prevention of harm. Workers in the manufactured stone sector rely on many control measures to protect them from lung diseases such as silicosis, with one of them being respiratory protection.
This webinar will look at virtual reality as a means of helping workers to see what they otherwise cannot. Virtual reality is an administrative control, that can be used to provide a powerful message to workers to help them reduce their exposure by being able to understand where an unseen hazard exists. We will look at a case study in an underground coal mine and how the training was developed, providing tips along the way of how this can be achieved.
This webinar will provide information regarding different surface sampling methods for metal contaminants in the workplace. The talk will cover some of the more common dermal sampling methods, with a focus on wipe sampling as well as discuss in detail health hazards of metals and how to interpret the sample results using various indices.
This webinar will address the variability of health hazards associated with the processing of engineered stone. The materials science of conventional benchtop engineered stone, new low-silica engineered stone products, as well as other construction materials, will be covered. The complexity of pathogenesis and implications of recent research will be explored. Some challenges, misconceptions and future research directions will be discussed.
This webinar will discuss the unusual characteristics of these chemicals, the most important exposure pathways relevant in workplaces and some of the controversy surrounding reference doses for protection of human health. Presented by Therese Manning - Principal, EnRiskS and AIOH President Kate Cole