Dust Fallout Monitoring has a nationally legislated methodology in terms of the 2004 National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act and subsequent National Dust Control Regulations. These regulations specify the exact methods and equipment to be utilised for results to be scientifically valid as per South African National Standard (SANS 1137: 2012) which is the identical implementation of the international methodology known as ASTM D1739: 1998. Dust fall monitoring is a cost-effective method for identifying priority control areas and deviations that result in excessive dust emissions. Any person who conducts an activity in such a way as to give rise to dust in quantities and concentrations that may exceed the dust fall standard must, upon receipt of a notice from the air quality officer, implement a dust fall monitoring programme, which includes a network of dust monitoring points. Monitoring takes place over a 30-day period, and the results can then be compared to the national standard. The process can be carried out over a period of a few months; however, usually dust fall monitoring runs over at least a year, if not a few years.
In terms of the dust management plan / programme design, the National Dust Control Regulations, 2013 (published under GNR 827 in GG 36974 of 1 November 2013), a dust management plan should consist of the following components:
- Identify all possible sources of dust within the affected site;
- Detail the best practicable measures to be undertaken to mitigate dust emissions;
- Detail an implementation schedule;
- Identify the line management responsible for implementation;
- Incorporate the dust fallout monitoring plan; and
- Establish a register for recording follow up actions and responses to the complainants.
Dust fallout monitoring procedure
- Collection and measuring of dust-fall are done by means of employing a simple device comprising of a cylindrical container (at least 150mm in diameter, and twice as deep as the diameter) that is exposed for one calendar month (±2 days). These are mounted off the ground on stands (approximately 3m high) to ensure that surface dust does not interfere with the monitoring process and impact the results of the dust fallout measurement.
- After the 30-day period, buckets are recovered and sealed with its contents and are then sent to a SANAS-accredited laboratory for analysis.
- The contents of the bucket are compared and analysed to concentrations set out in local and international standards.
- A Dust Fall Monitoring report is compiled based on the results and comparisons and where possible, recommendations are provided.
Why choose KCM Environmental?
- KCM offers dust fallout monitoring as an end to end service to industry, and as part of our service offering, our expert field technicians will supply and set up the equipment and then monitor and manage your dust fall.
- Our team follows the ASTM D1739 method, and we only use SANAS approved laboratories to analyse dust fall samples, allowing you to determine the impact of your dust management plans.
- If there are exceedances of the standard, we can then assist in preparing a site-specific fugitive dust management plan to control, manage and monitor and reduce your dust fall levels.
- We consider that there are climatic factors, such as wind and rain, that can impact dust fallout monitoring results. Therefore, we look at climate conditions that may influence patterns of dust fallout in the future. This allows us to formulate a comprehensive clean-up plan that takes all contributing factors into account for the future operation of your business.
Our qualified team can help safeguard you from expensive, dangerous dust fallout, and compliance fines. Contact us via mail info@kcmenviro.co.za or call us on 061 568 5510 and let us start working together on innovative solutions for your business.