Buying a kettle and nickel in water?

SaberX on 18/07/2014 - 15:41

Hi all, starting a new job down in the nickel mines. In the finance/admin side so I wont be direclty on site, but the mine and relevant processing equipment is a short walk/eye vision distance fruther down the road. Being aus i assume we'd have OHS and environmental protection, but just wondering firstly:

1) Is there any health risks being exposed to Nickel, or will there be? I just imagine fine nickel dust somehow flying all over the place and images of abestos and other dangerous particles causing cancer down the track come into mind. It's my first mine site job and it may be my last after a yr or two stint, depending how i like things.

2) How can I take precautions - is there a water filter jug or some other implement that filters out these metals/chemicals? I've bought a plain water container (BPA free) to store boiled water in my room, but that's it. Trying to stay within costs/budgets as obviously food and water is provided at work all day. I heard or used to see there may be 'inexpensive' ways of pouring water into a filter jug which breaks down hard metals and any bad substances before it filters down to th ebottom? Or is this just all a gimmick - do they actually work? or do they cost a fortune?

3) I bought a cheap kmart $7.50 that plastic like feeling electric kettles yesterday. On second thoughts am I risking health for this? Surely they wouldn't make something that would leech chemicals whilst boiling? A part of me says i should return it and bite the bullet and grab even a $40 stainless steel kettle. But some say stainless steel rusts or has chrome and other nickel coatings too, so I'm confused what material kettle I should get to lower my day to day boiled water exposure.

Hope I don't sound a little paranoid - just thinking about my long term health as I want to live well into the 70s, 80s+ hopefully, and being pre 30 yo it wouldn't be great to unknowingly be contributing negativey by not taking precaution. I'm sure many here have more knowledge/research in these areas of health interest. THanks!

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • Daabido on 18/07/2014 - 16:22

    On your first day, look around. If your co-workers are alive and appear to have been working there for some time, you'll probably be OK.

    Then watch what they do with their water.

  • Adz81 on 18/07/2014 - 17:53
    +1

    Hi Saber,
    Depending on where the mine is, they may have to make/filter their own water— in my experience this water is fine, depending on the process, it may be a little softer than the water you're used to, or their treatment levels may differ to what you're used to, but it will be in spec. Anything to do with water on mine sites is pretty closely monitored. Personally, I use a filter jug in my room, and if your work place has water fountains, you'll probably notice they have a twin filter set up leading in to them (worth mentioning— i use my filter jug out of preference, I grew up drinking rain water and will generally plumb in a twin filter system for drinking when I'm renting a place).
    Further to this, on the conerns for nickel, I found this:
    http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp15-c1.pdf

    also, any health affects/concerns should have been rolled out to you in a site induction, along with PPE requirements.

    While mining companies aren't saints, they'll generally do their bit to protect their people from risk— a healthy worker is a lot more productive than an injured/sick worker and the negative press is something they're all aware of.

    On the plastic kettle? I don't dig plastic kettles myself but that's a preference as well… You're concerns are founded— but if you start looking to exclude BPA's or any substance that might leach chemicals from it, you'd pretty much need to live in a bubble.

    Hope the above's been of some help.
    Cheers.

    • SaberX on 19/07/2014 - 03:10

      Hi Adz, cheers for ther response. Great to hear that airconds will have filters, and water will be monitored and treated specifically to ensure treatments and filters take out any risk of such metal contaminants. I've never worked on a mine site before hence my concern. I know being aus the health rules and regulations would lead to this being a given , but I thought I'd at least for peace of mind ask those out there for their opinion. I could do that - fill up my 2L jug at work as they should all have the little filter tank thing under the benchtop that filters tap water (in CBD offices too). But of course that means lugging a 2 Litre bottle of water to and from your room at the end of the day…

      WHat is this 'filter jug' that you've gotten for your room? I've heard and used one once where you poured water and waited an eternity for the water to filter through to the bottom haha. I'll have plenty of time at night to wait, just wondering where I can therefore check these out (who sells these? I've never seen them in shops - let alone can I get them for an affordably decent price).

      YOu're right, will try not to live in a bubble, but figured a stainless steel kettle seemed to be 'safer' by judgement. I have no research to back it up or digging that i've done. I just had a connotation between plastics and high temperature water being an issue than what you'd naturally imagine a metal like stainless steel would be. I swapped the $7.50 kmart 'homemakers' brand kettle for a stainless steel Breville. cost me $40 instead ($25 for the homemakers stainless steel, but at this point I figure djust go branded, maybe the electronics will be better quality/lasting too).

      I guess I won't even go into food handling, storage and safety in preparation, i guess anything would be washed out and cooked well anyway so any contaminants would (if they even got through packaging) not make it into the daily cafeteria. I'm sure it'll all be fine. Guess your first job on the mine site is always of concern.

      haha i think I will have a harder time stomaching twice weekly flights to and from, especialyl with the recent MH17 tragedy. The odds are low but I already think the worse before.. and now MH!

      Thanks for your responses. They helped indeed.Will read that link, haha the first paragraph doesnt paint the best statistical picture of Nickel though does it? :)

      • Adz81 on 19/07/2014 - 06:42

        I grabbed my filter jug from Woolies, but any supermarket should have them, it's just a Brita one, clear just with a white upper part, fill the white upper part with water and let gravity do its thing. Only takes a few minutes to filter through the carbon filter cartridge in the base of the white bit.

        The flights are easy :) Just think of it as an extra couple of hours' sleep :D

  • Davo1111 on 18/07/2014 - 18:08

    Ahh i saw your post on WP.

    I've worked at a different mine, similar risks. Water will be filtered, hard surfaces need to be mopped/wiped with wet cloth rather than vacuuming. Air conditioners will have filters.

    I wouldn't worry at all tbh.

    • SaberX on 19/07/2014 - 03:12

      sharp eyes! I do tend to post there too for the different communities, potentially greater exposure etc :) I find ozb's more willing and great in helping to share opinions and help, less 'sarcasm' and overall more replies than whirlpool at time.

      WHat sort of mineral mine did you work at? I guess their water supply sourec ewill be properly treated/filtered, so you didn't bother buying your own proper filter jugs etc? You just went with your normal continers etc as if you were back in the city?

      Yeah I'm sure I'll get over the paranoia after a yr of the same old :P

      • Davo1111 on 19/07/2014 - 03:24

        ill drop u a pm

        check your pm.

        That should put your mind at ease

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join