Hi Riki, UV radiation is a physical hazard.

A timeline of WorkSafe WES-TWA values for Cr(VI)

• 2017 - 0.05 mg/m3
• 2018 - WES Review for Cr(VI) recommended 0.0002 mg/m3
• 2018 - 0.01 mg/m3 (adopted 0.01 mg/m3 with a view to review again)
• 2019 - 0.01 mg/m3 (Interim)
• 2020 - WES Review for Cr(VI) recommended 0.00002 mg/m3
• 2020 - 0.00002 mg/m3

A brief rationale of why Cr(VI) was set to 0.00002 mg/m3

• The WES-TWA corresponds to 1 extra lung cancer case per 10,000 exposed workers.
• The WES-STEL is set to minimise transient peak exposures that could trigger asthmatic responses.
• Introduction of dsen and rsen notations based on association with contact and rarely
  occupational asthma.
• Introduction of skin notation based on the systemic absorption of chromium following dermal exposures to water-soluble Cr(VI) compounds.
• Removal of individual WES for Cr(VI) compounds based on the ACGIH®, SCOEL, DECOS and NIOSH recommendations that concluded that all hexavalent chromium compounds should be considered as carcinogens, that underlying processes include a stochastic genotoxic mechanism [that is, no threshold], and that in the health-based cancer risk calculation no distinction should be made between soluble and poorly soluble hexavalent chromium compounds.

Other countries WES-TWA for Cr(VI) (non-exhaustive)

• 0.001 mg/m3 - France, Germany, USA NIOSH
• 0.005 mg/m3 - Denmark, EU, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland

WES vs PES

• The WES and BEIs are guidance values – not prescribed exposure standards.
• The values are considered to be health-based WES.
• This means they are based on minimising health risk and don't take into consideration practicability of achieving or measuring the value.
• More information can be found here: https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/monitoring/exposure-standards-and-biological-exposure-indices

Hi Jane,

Anti-vibration gloves are a mixed bag. They may provide little protection, but at the same time they may increase risks as well.

The type of system represented by a hand and the resilient pad built into a glove has a natural frequency higher than those mainly implicated in HAV syndrome (HAVS). In some cases, a small reduction in vibration amplitude is achieved, while in others the vibration exposure of the hand may actually increase.

The structure of most antivibration gloves normally makes it much more difficult to grip and control tools and work than would be the case if they were not worn. This may merely be an inconvenience, but it may also force the user to grip the tool more tightly, once again probably increasing the risk of HAVS.

As a result of the above factors, antivibration gloves are not normally recommended as part of a programme of measures to reduce HAV risks. They may keep the hands warm and this can help to protect against vibration damage. However, any glove will do this, and it would be more beneficial to choose a type that allows good control of the tool without an excessively tight grip. In any case, the antivibration types are considerably more expensive than most other gloves.

Hi David, best engage an occupational health nurse (via the HASANZ Register) or an occupational physician for advice on health monitoring.

You might want to look at the type of PPE you're using and the respiratory symptoms the worker is experiencing. Negative pressure respirators are not appropriate for asthmatics, for example, as they could exacerbate their condition.

This may be a useful paper to start off on (https://iforest.sisef.org/contents/?id=ifor2123-009). They took 100 samples of forest workers carrying out chainsaw activities. Results for the various tasks are below:
Clear cut in coppice (n=20): GM 1.98 mg/m3 (Range 0.95-5.58 mg/m3)
Thinning (n=23): GM 0.99 mg/m3 (Range 0.38-3.59 mg/m3)
Pruning (n=28): GM 1.36 mg/m3 (Range 0.11-5.40 mg/m3)
Sanitary cut (n=29): GM 1.07 mg/m3 (Range 0.31-2.58 mg/m3)

Hi Stuart, welding fume was reviewed last year as were various metals that can be found in welding fume.

Hi John, it is expected that after the review process that the next version of the WES & BEI book will be available around November/December.

That's why you can carry out exposure monitoring to measure the exposure levels of the hazard (noise, dust, vapours, etc) at the workplace as a means of assessing at-work exposures.