Ensuring the health and safety of project team members and the community is a high priority during the Rhodes Remediation Projects. Before establishing the project sites, Thiess Services developed health and safety management plans that were reviewed by industry experts and approved by Government regulators. Protocols and procedures from these plans have since been implemented including the establishment of special site work safety zones.
In addition, environmental management plans set out procedures for reducing dust, odour and noise during the work. Environmental monitoring focused on health is conducted at the excavation face, at project boundaries and in the community. See the ’Environment’ section of this website for more details.
A number of independent health and environmental professionals are engaged to assist with health and safety management. Dr Garry Smith, a health and environment risk specialist, provides advice to the Projects about minimising potential risks to human health. Click the link on the left of this page to read his ’Human Health Risk Assessment’, produced using 18 months’ worth of air monitoring data. Click here to view Dr Smith’s CV.
The NSW Department of Health has also played a proactive role in the planning and development of the Rhodes Remediation Projects. The Department conducted a research study before remediation works commenced which concluded that historically, when heavy industry existed, there had been no significant increase in cancer rates for people living around the Rhodes Peninsula.
The Department of Health is also conducting the ’Rhodes Serum Dioxin Study’ while the remediation projects are underway. For progress reports and background information on this study go to: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/PublicHealth/environment/hazards/env_rhodes.asp
Representatives of the Department of Health are active participants in the monthly meetings Thiess Services holds with the community liaison group (RCCC).