Background
Recent regulatory inspections identified that workers are exposed to hazardous gas, fumes and dust from gold room exhausts discharging to walkways, accessways, airconditioning intakes and adjacent buildings.
Summary of hazard
Gold room exhaust contains ammonia gas, heavy metal fumes and combustion gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides generated by the electrowinning, calcining and smelting processes. Exposures to these contaminants may lead to a variety of chronic health conditions.
Contributory factors
Exhaust discharges have been identified:
- in walkways and accessways
- near or adjacent to air intakes
- near or towards adjacent buildings
- with stacks of insufficient height to adequately disperse the contaminants