Name

Marcus Brooks, Occupational Hygiene Manager

Company

Robson Environmental

Company purchased for

A project delivery, planning and construction firm with operations in ACT, NSW and QLD specialising in high-end residential, commercial and retail projects.

Location

Using one Trolex AIR XS for sites around Canberra and one for NSW based jobs

Industry

Large scale commercial construction sites, including large-scale demolition projects and the complete re-design of buildings

Why has the Trolex AIR XS been implemented?

Our customer uses the AIR XS as a control device for different working groups they employ. They are responsible for concreters, tilers, electricians, chippies - you name it! They’re building from scratch so there are a lot of people on the ground.

They’re using the AIR XS as a control monitoring device, as an additional method to personal exposure monitoring because it’s sometimes challenging and a lengthy process to get exposure monitoring done for every individual.

The work being carried out on these sites could be disturbing silica, so they’re theoretically making lots of RCS (Respirable Crystalline Silica) dust. There’s lots of potential for harmful exposure.

The client is currently using the AIR XS as an area monitor next to specific machines and leaving it for a specific time period. Sometimes we will leave it for a day, or a week, while they’re doing a specific task and then we’ll look at what type of data is recorded and investigate what levels of RCS dust are being produced.

The AIR XS is also being used to reassure employees and provide further evidence for regulators. If workers are concerned, or regulators ask how RCS levels are being managed, Bloc can say here’s a device that’s saying our controls are being effective. Alternatively, if their controls aren’t being effective, they know about it quickly and some preventative measures can be rapidly implemented.

What were the main drivers for purchasing the Trolex AIR XS?

Robson Environmental undertake hazard monitoring including personal exposure and other sorts of static monitoring to see how controls are performing.

After discussing the AIR XS ORT (Optical Refraction Technology) with AES at one of the conferences, I was telling our customer about this new device which would probably suit their needs.

Essentially the driving factors were;

Being proactive about the issues facing potential exposure to silica dust
Eventually, by purchasing a device, it will work out more cost effective and easier down the track as issues can be addressed in real-time
A good continuous addition to personal monitoring, which can take a while to complete

What were the results from the use of the Trolex AIR XS?

They were similar to standard background levels of RCS we see on construction sites. It was good to see that where controls were in place, that the data showed these controls were working effectively.

How has the Trolex AIR XS enhanced dust monitoring processes?

It is still early days, but it is improving the customers understanding of levels of exposure. Physically seeing what’s going on with their controls and how well it’s working is quite impactful. The AIR XS is not reducing the need to do exposure monitoring as standard, but it can enhance monitoring programs by providing a constant indicator that exposure of RCS levels are safe, and controls are working.

For example, it’s better to have distance control rather than setting up a static pump, which is still going to analyse the gravimetric way, then wait for the results to come back.

The AIR XS can be used as an investigative tool to understand when, why and where exceedances in RCS dust levels have occurred. Data collected in real-time from the AIR XS will show you what time of day the exceedance occurred so managers can look at it and pinpoint exactly what job was happening and what controls were in place at the time.

How is the data being used?

We’re currently looking at the data on a day-to-day basis to validate controls, but as we get more into the project, we’ll be able to collect more data and start to conduct trend analysis for more preventative action.

My customer is also using the data to reassure the public that there is no risk, as the data shows there is no exceedance in RCS dust levels, or if there was, they could prove it was larger particles rather than the presence of respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

You can find out more about the AIR XS here. If you would like to trial or hire an AIR XS real-time silica monitor for your project or would like a quote please just get in contact.

Recommendations made after using the Trolex AIR XS

To be able to use the AIR XS remotely with the capability to feed live data into a customer’s platform.
Or have it set-up with a remote setting with its own platform- ready to go, out the box
Geo-tagging so users can also see remotely which AIR XS is alerting and where

AES can now offer telemetry options installed in the AIR XS and the AIR XD units for remote monitoring, please request this version upon enquiry.