Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter & Kambalda Nickel Concentrator

Case Study: Nickel Exposure Minimisation Project

Following the completion of the baseline studies, a Nickel Exposure Minimisation Project was established in 2003. This continued during 2004, with a Project Team Leader appointed to manage implementation. The project focussed on three areas: Awareness, Exposure Measurements and Exposure Reduction. Activities included:

• Ongoing exposure monitoring and review of the assessment of risk.
• Awareness presentations to ensure all our people and major contractors were provided with up-to-date information on exposure standards, WMC sampling programs and information on nickel substances found at the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and Kambalda Concentrator operations.
• Identification of a significant number of dust minimisation projects for 2004-2005 (estimated capital cost of $8M).
• Reviews of interactions within the plant, conducted by teams of experienced Process and Maintenance Technicians, under the guidance of the Project Team Leader. Their focus was to review how equipment is operated and maintained and how dust is generated.
• A review of respiratory protective devices, which identified a need for upgrades in some areas of Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and Kambalda Concentrator to provide short-term protection to our people, whilst capital and operational changes are being made. Personal protective equipment upgrades were based on hygiene sampling and the levels of protection required to meet WMC action limits.
• Participation by personnel from across Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and Kambalda in a program to measure levels of nickel present in urine, in addition to ongoing exposure monitoring. This program was complemented by an education program presented by a medical practitioner, and aims to identify baseline levels of nickel in urine, with a view to setting safe limits.

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