Dusty cargoes

Typical cargoes in UK ports include grain, soya, animal foodstuffs, fishmeal, ores, coal and coke, cement, biomass, superphosphate and other fertilisers. During handling these can give off large quantities of dust. In some cases, eg coal and aggregates, the dust is simply small particles of the material itself. In other cases, eg grains and pulses, the dust may include contaminants such as bacteria and fungi.

Different dusts have different effects on health, but the most important effects of dusty cargoes are on the lungs. The chronic effects are often permanent and disabling.

How the risks can be reduced

Where possible, a person’s exposure to hazardous dust should be prevented. If this is not possible then exposure to dust should be controlled. Some ways to control exposure include:

• restrict staff entry to dusty areas; 
• use totally enclosed, continuous handling systems - these usually provide the best control and should be used whenever reasonably practicable;
• suppress dust with sprays of water or other binding agents;
• ensure all equipment used to reduce dust exposure is properly maintained;
• design tasks to reduce the amount of dust generated;
• provide suitable dust filtration systems to the cabs of all new loading shovels used to handle dusty cargoes;
• provide respiratory protective equipment (RPE) - this should be suitable for its purpose, maintained and compatible with other protective equipment worn;
• where appropriate, provide health surveillance for workers.

Which laws apply?

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)

HSE guidance

• Publications and guidance - Dusty cargoes