dbOHS is able to provide a wide range of occupational hygiene services. The publication list gives some idea of our interests, though we cannot give details of consultancy reports and other past services to industry for obvious reasons of confidentiality.
Dr Bromwich has the qualifications, expertise and capability to research, evaluate complex issues and provide impartial advice.
Expert Witness
- Researching toxic exposures
- Evaluating technical reports
- Appearing as an expert witness
Dust
dbOHS has had a long interest in dust, from condensation nuclei (now called nanoparticles) to coarse wood dust. Dusts with unusual properties and poorly documented toxicity can be investigated. Reports can also give specicfic adice on the control of dust expsoures.
Noise Surveys
dbOHS has done a large number of noise surveys and advised on approaches to noise control
Heat Stress
Heat Stress is often poorly understood, but quite complex assessments can be performed with relatively simple equipment. However, there are pitfalls.
The thermal environment has been assessed in many factories including foundries, power stations and general manufacturing. Both hot and cold environments were assessed. Assessments included
Chemical Protective Clothing
dbOHS can offer a wide range of services in the permeation testing of chemical protective clothing and breathing hoses. Most of this is a research interest (the basis of my PhD) and related to a current research project.
An offshoot of the work for the F111 Deseal Reseal Board of Inquiry was the funding by the RAAF of the development of a new method of measuring chemical permeation through breathing hoses. This resulted in three publications:
- Bromwich, D. and R. Braddock (2006). “Chemical Permeation Testing of Air-Supply Hoses.” JOEH 3(3): 107 – 117.
- Bromwich, D. W. (2006). “Permeation of MEK, Turco, aviation fuel and diesel though a breathing hose over an extended time.” Journal of Occupational Health and Safety – Australia and New Zealand 22(1): 27-36.
- Bromwich, D. W. and J. Parikh (2006). “Effect of temperature on permeation through air supply hose.” JOEH 3(3): 153 – 160.
The method can replace a cumbersome NIOSH method, reducing the amount of chemical from 200 L to a few mL, and can be done on many samples simultaneously using only a laboratory balance.
Asbestos
I sometimes ask if do asbestos work. Due to the high professional insurance premiums for any work involving asbestos, dbOHS does not normally offer services in this area.
I have published articles on the topic but cannot give advice (see disclaimer). I am concerned that there is almost no regulatory interest in protecting home renovators who sand, drill and cut asbestos cement sheeting or anyone removing old carpet underlay that may have been made from bags that contained asbestos.
- Bromwich, D. W. (2006). “The 2005 Australian Asbestos Codes of Practice – An Occupational Hygiene Perspective.” Journal of Occupational Health and Safety – Australia and New Zealand 22(5): 463-470.
- McClarty, V. and D. W. Bromwich (1994). Asbestos Statistics. Proceedings of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists’ Annual Conference, Melbourne, Australia Institute of Occupational Hygienists.
- Vandenberg, M. and D. W. Bromwich (1993). Integrated Asbestos Removal and Demolition in a Power Station. Proceedings of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists’ Annual Conference, Terrigal, Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists.
- Yau, Y. H. and D. W. Bromwich (1994). “Failure of Bags and Sheets Used in Asbestos Abatements.” AIHAJ 55(1): 42-52.
There are lots of well established operators in the area, but I suspect many have little real understanding of the risks. A ticking time bomb!
Radiation
Dr Bromwich is a qualified health physicist and a full member of the Australasian Radiation Protection Society (MARPS), but his professional practice has moved from ionising radiation to non-ionising radiation (particularly ultra violet) and electromagnetic fields from powerlines.
Professional insurance for high level radiation is expensive, so he limits ionising radiation work to low level radiation, such as background radiation surveys.
David started his work with radiation as an observer for the Northern Territory Health Department in pre mining radiation surveys at the Nabarlek Uranium Mine in the Northern Territory in 1978. Teams from the Australian Atomic Energy Commission (AAEC, now ARPANSA) and the Australian Radiation Laboratory (ARL, now also part of ARPANSA) ran the surveys.
In 1978, the need for Health Physicists for the revitalised uranium industry was evident and David undertook a 2-year MSc in Medical Physics at QIT (now QUT) in Brisbane and developed a new method of measuring radon progeny based on delayed coincidence for his thesis.
- Bromwich, D. W. (1980). The Measurement of Radon Daughters. Physics Dept MSc (Medical Physics). Brisbane, Queensland Institute of Technology PDF
After completing his MSc he was appointed as Senior Health Physicist to the Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy. A team of 30 health physicists was planned, but restrictions were placed on the development of new mines in Australia, and these plans fizzled.
He partook in an OECD Inter-calibration of radon measurements using Lucas Flasks and developed a comprehensive health physics infrastructure including a simulated underground uranium mine controlled by the newly released Apple II computer. Some components were provided by the Australian Atomic Energy Commission (AAEC, now part of ARPANSA) such as a Condensation Nuclei Generator – also controlled by the Apple II.
In a cost benefit analysis of the radiation risks, he found that the risks to uranium workers was low – less than 0.8 excess deaths in 30 years, well below the number of uranium workers killed each year on the road between Darwin and Jabiru. More uranium miners have been eaten by crocodiles than the predicted number of deaths attributed to radiation.
- Leach, V. A. and D. W. Bromwich (1984). Are Giga Dollars per Sievert Worth It? Proceedings of the 9th Annual Conference of the Australian Radiation Protection Society, Melbourne , Australia Radiation Protection Society PDF
As a result of this study he moved from Health Physics to Occupational Hygiene with a second MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). On returning to Australia he spent a year in his new role before accepting a position at the University of Queensland as corporate Occupational Hygienist – and University Radiation Officer.