WorkSafe have released guidance for employers on how to inspect, vent and safely unpack fumigated shipping containers.
The presence of unsafe levels of methyl bromide (MeBr) is a hazard to the health and safety of persons involved in unpacking shipping containers.
Shipping containers that have been fumigated and ventilated by fumigators may still contain a significant quantity of methyl bromide (MeBr) due to poor venting procedures, desorption or entrapment of the gas in the packaging and materials used to secure the container cargo (dunnage).
This may present a risk to persons involved in unpacking these containers.
The guidance steps out how to ensure workers are not exposed to levels of MeBr above the current Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants (20240 – Current limits are 5 ppm (parts per million).