QUARRYING SECTOR SAFE HANDLING OF RAW MATERIALS CONTAMINATED WITH ASBESTOS 1. Case metadata

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1 QUARRYING SECTOR SAFE HANDLING OF RAW MATERIALS CONTAMINATED WITH ASBESTOS 1. Case metadata Country/ies of origin: Germany Year of publication by agency: 2009 Sector: B8.1 Quarrying of stone Keywords: 24361C Good Practice 24401C Case Studies 19641D Risk Assessment 20641D Worker Participation 19161D Integration of OSH Management System 2. Organisations involved Bundesverband Mineralische Rohstoffe e.v. MIRO (German Aggregates Federation MIRO) Steinbruchs-Berufsgenossenschaft StBG (Statutory Accident Insurance Institution for the Quarrying and Mining Industry StBG) Harzer Pflastersteinbrüche Telge und Eppers, NL der Kemna Bau Andreae GmbH & Co. KG 3. Description of the case 3.1. Introduction Mineral raw materials such as stone are extracted and processed at quarries. However, these materials may potentially be contaminated with asbestos. The presence of asbestos minerals as an impurity in the stone can often not be ruled out. However, asbestos can be regarded as a dangerous high-risk substance. Thus, workers may be at risk due to their exposure to asbestos especially at workplaces in fields such as extraction (including overburden stripping, blast extraction, and loading and transporting debris), processing (including pre- and post-crushing, classification, sorting, and washing or wet-processing), storage, loading, shipping (including loading free warehouses, loading from silos, and vehicle weighing equipment or sales office), and maintenance (including repairs and cleaning). At these workplaces, mechanical processing of the mineral raw materials produces dust (see figure 1 and 2). If these materials are stone that potentially contains asbestos, the asbestos fibres may enter the lungs and lead to severe negative health effects. In the long-term, exposure to asbestos fibres may cause asbestosis, a hardening of the connective tissue in the lung. There is also an increased risk of bronchial carcinoma and mesothelioma of the pleura (cancer of the chest lining). 1

2 Figure 1: production of dust during process Figure 2: production of dust during process Therefore, in order to prevent asbestos fibres from being released and entering the lungs, the quarry operator must always determine whether workers extracting and processing the stone could be exposed to asbestos. If necessary, appropriate protective measures should be taken, so that workers know how to handle mineral raw materials in a safe way (see figure 3). 2

3 Figure 3: example of cabin to prevent exposure to dust Moreover, quarrying companies must observe the relevant provisions of the German Dangerous Substances Regulation [Gefahrstoffverordnung]. The Technical Rule on Dangerous Substances [Technische Regel Gefahrstoffe] (TRGS) 517 came into effect in January It establishes these provisions in more detail for activities involving mineral raw materials that potentially contain asbestos and the products and preparations manufactured from them Aims Due to the potential exposure to the dangerous high-risk substance asbestos, it is of high importance to protect the health of workers extracting and processing mineral raw materials at quarries, in order to achieve a long-term increase in health and safety at the workplaces related to quarrying of stone What was done, and how? With the aim to protect the workers exposed to asbestos, MIRO, StBG and the company Harzer Pflastersteinbrüche Telge und Eppers, NL der Kemna Bau Andreae GmbH & Co. KG developed a modern integrated management system for the handling of mineral raw materials contaminated with this high-risk substance. The management system is called Training Model Risk Assessment Model Documentation. This integrated system consists of (a) a training courses to acquire expertise. These courses introduced quarry employees to the problems associated with asbestos. Training and information was given on subjects such as the incidence of asbestos in mineral raw materials, asbestos-related health risks, provisions and regulations, identifying stone deposits that potentially contain asbestos, risk assessment and organisational, technical and personal protective measures. In addition, the participants of the training course gained the expertise required by the Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances (TRGS) 517 (Technische Regel für Gefahrstoffe (TRGS) 517). 3

4 Furthermore, the management system integrates (b) a model risk assessment which particularly relates to the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials. It contains a risk analysis, an estimate of the potential risk and lists of possible protective measures especially related to dust from which the companies can select measures particularly suited to their workplaces. These model risk assessments can be used to produce a so-called Catalogue of Obligations step by step. Last but not least, the management system comprises (c) a model documentation. In this regard, the risk assessment is designed and structured in such a way that the companies can simultaneously produce suitable, comprehensive documentation by adding external test results and other documents What was achieved? Hitherto, it has been left almost entirely to each enterprise to assess the risk situation and the protective measures to be derived from it. From that time on, enterprises could use the integrated management system Training Model risk assessment Model documentation, the first asbestos risk assessment for workplaces and/or work situations in quarries, which supports businesses by providing simple and practical means to implement German legal provisions. The training course of the management system qualified participants to carry out risk assessments. Therewith, for the employers there was no longer a need to call in external advisers and the risk assessment could be carried out in-house. The systematic approach outlined in the model risk assessment was used to assess the risks at a specific workplace in the quarry company. The performer of the risk assessment could work through the management system step by step and could produce the documentation required by law at the same time. Employees of nearly 60 companies have attended the training course so far. An additional training course was scheduled for Success factors The management system Training Model Risk Assessment Model Documentation is perceived as a practical solution being completely in step with the actual practice and specifically designed for quarries. It can be used to achieve a long-term increase in health and safety at the workplaces where stones are extracted and processed at quarries. Since the management system allows to add external results/documents into the model-risk assessment and model-documentation, it always contains the current knowledge. The companies participating in the training courses and being interested in this issue receive the model risk assessment. Therewith, the companies are able to implement the risk assessment and produce documentation individually designed for their businesses. Thus, the management system is oriented to the most important processes and activities in the given sector. The training courses and documentation are provided free of charge. Thus, every company saves the cost of external services for implementing their risk assessment. The knowledge of the participants concerning potential risks is significantly enlarged in the training courses. The enterprises taking part in the training courses act as multipliers for other enterprises. Therewith, the acceptance and the dissemination of the offered measures can be increased. Since quarry enterprises are mostly small and medium sized enterprises in Germany and risk assessment is often not adequately implemented in these kinds of enterprises, the management system Training Model Risk Assessment Model Documentation demonstrates a very good and helpful initiative which is to be transported to these kinds of enterprises. 4

5 3.6. Further information Mr Walter Nelles Bundesverband Mineralische Rohstoffe e.v. MIRO (German Aggregates Federation MIRO) Annastraße Köln, Germany Tel: +49-(0) Fax: +49-(0) Web: Mr Kurt Kolmsee Steinbruchs-Berufsgenossenschaft StBG (Statutory Accident Insurance Institution for the Quarrying and Mining Industry StBG) Theodor-Heuss-Str Langenhagen, Germany Tel: +49-(0) Fax: +49-(0) Web: Harzer Pflastersteinbrüche Telge und Eppers, NL der Kemna Bau Andreae GmbH & Co. KG Am Güterbahnhof Bad Harzburg Germany Tel: +49-(0) Fax: +49-(0) Transferability The method of safe handling of raw materials contaminated with asbestos has been carried over into practice by all in the quarry-sector involved and cooperating partners: enterprises, accident insurers, and the Federal Association of mineral basic materials. The solutions for the removal and reduction of potential asbestos fibre exposure listed in the model risk assessment are protective measures designed specifically for workplaces in quarries. Nevertheless, if being amended, the integrated management system Training Model Risk Assessment Model Documentation can be transferred to workplaces and/or workplace situations in other countries as well. 4. References, resources: Information provided by the company/organisation in the framework of the Good Practice Award Competition 2008/2009. SIFA Tipp. Praxisportal für Sicherheitsfachkräfte. Steinbruchsbetriebe: Bei der Gefährdungsbeurteilung alle Individualitäten berücksichtigen. 5