What is the algal bloom?
The algal bloom is a rapid growth and accumulation of algae in marine environments. Some blooms are harmless, but the current algal bloom off the coast of South Australia is harmful to fish and gill breathing marine animals. Waters containing the bloom look discoloured and produce foam which is visible along the coastline.
Affected Areas | Algal Bloom Update.
What are the risks?
Health advice for the public is currently available on the algal bloom website. People who enter the water or breathe in small particles (aerosols) carried by air through wave action, may experience short term symptoms including:
- Skin irritation
- Eye irritation
- Cough and shortness of breath
There is also specific advice for people with asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, or other forms of chronic lung disease, s they may be more vulnerable to the respiratory effects of the biotoxins contained in the bloom. Please see information here https://www.algalbloom.sa.gov.au/health-advice
Is my workplace, or where I am working at risk?
Workers who undertake fishing, diving, boating activities, surf lifesaving activities, marine researchers/scientists, park rangers, council workers, personal trainers and those who operate businesses along the coastline or on the beach, such as cafe / restaurant owners and sporting event organisers may be exposed to the algal bloom.
How do I manage the exposure?
For workers
As a worker, you have a responsibility to take reasonable care for your own health and safety and for others who may be affected by what you do or don’t do. You must follow any reasonable health and safety instructions from your employer and use equipment properly, following safe work procedures, and attend training. Raise any concerns with your employer or Health and Safety Representative.
For businesses
For employers or persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), it’s your duty to manage workplace risks.
Following the four-step risk management process below will help your business meet its responsibilities under work health and safety (WHS) laws.
PCBUs must follow the risk management process:
- Identify the hazards
- Conduct a risk assessment that considers the likelihood and consequences of exposure
- Put suitable control measures in place
- Maintain and regularly review the control measures.
Step 1. Identify the risk
- Inspect your business
Think about your workplace and note where your work environment or processes create the risk of exposure to the algal bloom.
- Talk to your workers
Talk to your workers to find out if they have any health and safety concerns. A confidential survey could give workers who are less likely to speak out in public a chance to provide feedback.
- Review information
Monitor where the algal bloom has occurred and the potential drift pattern through up to date information here Affected Areas | Algal Bloom Update.
Step 2. Assess the risk
If the algal bloom is present, do a risk assessment to establish:
- if there is a risk to you or others
- whether any effective control measures are already in place
- what actions you could take to control the risk
- how soon you should act.
A risk assessment can include looking at:
- the local conditions (discoloured/foamy water, onshore winds, wave action)
- the nature of the work and how this exposes workers and others
- whether the work is required or if it can be rescheduled to a time when the risk of exposure is reduced
- the frequency and duration of contact.
Step 3. Control the risk
After assessing the risk, use control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk. Eliminate workers’ exposure to risks as much as reasonably possible. If this is not possible, minimise the risks.
Implement control measures in this order:
- Level 1: Get rid of the harm and prevent the risk.
- Level 2: Separate people from the algal bloom or change work processes or the physical work environment.
- Level 3: Use administrative controls to reduce exposure (such as limiting time exposed to the algal bloom) or use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect people from harm.
Eliminate the risk of exposure to the algal bloom:
- Check current information on the location of the bloom. Reschedule work around these locations if possible.
Minimise the risk of exposure to the algal bloom
Some of the actions you may consider:
- Change work processes and redesign tasks to minimise the number of workers exposed to the bloom, particularly if there is an onshore breeze.
- Provide barriers / shields to protect people from exposure to aerosols/seas spray particularly during windy conditions which could include using PPE such as masks
- Restrict access to foamy or discoloured water.
- Avoid direct contact with algal bloom foam washed onto the beach.
- If available, use vehicles with enclosed cabins with the air set to internal recirculation if travelling on or near the beach during onshore windy days where the bloom is present.
- Relocate activities, like fitness classes and sports events away from the water, if symptoms are experienced.
Other control measures
Some of the actions you may consider:
- Reduce the amount of time activities are undertaken along the coastline on windy days or in the vicinity of discoloured water or foams.
- Maintain a safe system of work for contact with the algal bloom. Provide washing facilities for workers who need to enter affected waters.
- Provide information, training and supervision needed to protect workers from the bloom risks.
- Provide adequate hand-washing facilities and instruct workers to wash their hands before eating, drinking and smoking and after removing personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Provide suitable facilities for managing accidental contact with the bloom and advise workers where contact has occurred to rinse any affected areas in clean water.
- Monitor symptoms of workers.
- If workers start having symptoms, move away from the beach.
For seafaring work, review current information on the locations of the bloom.
If you work in marine industries and your workers have to go into affected water, provide suitable PPE such as wet suits, dive booties, gloves and safety eyewear. Provide facilities to rinse in clean water after the activity is completed.
If you work in beach patrol / cleaning operations for the algal bloom:
- Monitor conditions for onshore winds and abnormal discoloured water and foam
- Stay upwind of the bloom where possible.
- Provide workers with suitable PPE to prevent skin and eye contact (including enclosed footwear, long sleeves and pants, gloves, and safety eyewear).
Step 4. Review risk controls
Risk management is an ongoing process. Check regularly to make sure the control measures are working. If you find problems, go through the steps again, review the information and decide whether you need new controls.
Under the work health and safety laws you must review the controls:
- when you become aware that a control measure is not working effectively
- before a change that might create a new risk
- when you find a new hazard or risk
- when your workers tell you that a review is needed
- after a health and safety representative requests a review.
Many South Australian workers and other persons are directly or indirectly impacted by the algal bloom on our coastline. This may include a psychological impact.
Worry, sadness, stress, confusion, or frustration are normal reactions to abnormal events with environmental and human impacts.
To aid sound coping and recovery, self-care, and peer support for those affected by such events should be based on the following principles:
- Acknowledging your experience
- Ensuring physical and emotional safety by ensuring basic needs are met
- Building secure relationships with others for mutual support
- Supporting people to make their own decisions consistent with their values and beliefs
- Fostering resilience and strengths-based support
This guide from Phoenix Australia provides practical guidance on mental health care for those affected by the algal bloom.