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Lawlee45239  
#1 Posted : 20 June 2014 13:52:41(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Lawlee45239

Afternoon everyone, We are a ground work company, and we have recently moved our yard to a new location. The new location is next door to a composting company. All of our operatives are mostly drivers, so are only in and out of the yard, but so far (a few weeks in), the guys have said the smell is affecting them, as are the bugs and the general dusts. My query is, can anyone shed light on the matter, a few guys have chosen to wear dust masks. I do not know where to begin on this one, and advice would be much appreciated.
chas  
#2 Posted : 20 June 2014 14:42:31(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chas

Type 'compost' in to the HSE's search engine and lots of items, research etc will pop up. Hope this helps
Lawlee45239  
#3 Posted : 20 June 2014 14:46:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Lawlee45239

Chas wrote:
Type 'compost' in to the HSE's search engine and lots of items, research etc will pop up. Hope this helps
Thank you, will have a look now, I was mostly on EA site
Ron Hunter  
#4 Posted : 20 June 2014 17:00:32(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ron Hunter

If there's appreciable dust arising from the business next door then they are surely obliged to do something about that? Respirable dust is a health hazard?
boblewis  
#5 Posted : 20 June 2014 23:06:40(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
boblewis

Look at this link http://www.mrw.co.uk/hom...ed-by-mp/3004847.article And follow up with a gogle on Windrow. Bob
Merv  
#6 Posted : 21 June 2014 17:48:04(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Merv

The composters could be doing something wrong. Proper compost heaps should be kept moist and warm. And good compost smells sweet. Shouldn't be any dust or noxious smell. Are they really composting the waste or rotting it ?
tony.  
#7 Posted : 21 June 2014 20:28:39(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
tony.

Contact defra
Ian A-H  
#8 Posted : 22 June 2014 07:28:50(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Ian  A-H

The greatest risk from industrial composting are bioaerosols. HSL have done some research which is presented here: http://www.aspergillus.o...Group%20March%202011.pdf Contains some useful links. From the limited information you have provided it looks like you have a problem - or rather your neighbours do - contact your local EHO. Ian
Lawlee45239  
#9 Posted : 26 June 2014 10:29:46(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Lawlee45239

Hi guys, thanks for the input. It is defo a compost only company. I've been up there for a few days now, all seems to be in order, there are sprinklers in place. That said there are small flies (not dust as the guys had said to me!), and the smell to me is like a silage pit, but it does seem to be affecting one of the guys. So we are currently looking into it a bit more.
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