Grain industry on alert over dust - EPA

As grain harvesting gets under way in the northwest, EPA Victoria is reminding the grain industry to make sure its handling and transport operations don’t make so much dust that it becomes a hazard to people’s health and the environment.

EPA’s Northwest Regional Manager Paul Ratajczyk says dust from the grain industry is easy to prevent.

“There’s no special trick to it. Dust control measures can be as simple as keeping trucks on sealed roads, limiting speed and spraying water or dust suppressant on gravel roads, and using screens, enclosed systems or pumps to stop dust escaping machinery,” he said.

“Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 the grain industry has a responsibility to take all reasonable measures to prevent pollution, so it’s all about having a sensible plan and putting it into action.”

“EPA officers inspecting grain handling and transport operations are looking for sensible preventative measures, well maintained equipment and reasonable efforts made to minimise dust impacts.”

Breathing dust can affect people’s health, especially vulnerable groups such as babies, young children and older people, and those with lung and heart conditions.

The operators of grain facilities are expected to have identified risks, implemented controls, regularly checked that the controls were working, and made sure workers on the site had the right training.

EPA also expects the operators to take into account that each day can be different, by checking weather forecasts, transport movements and site conditions.

The EPA website has practical advice for any business whose activities can produce dust, at: epa.vic.gov.au/control-dust-your-business(opens in a new window)

Members of the public can report pollution by calling EPA’s 24-hour hotline on 1300 372 842 or providing details online at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution(opens in a new window)