Workplace Health Monitoring

A Building Company Case Study

In a building company all staff on the tools are regularly exposed to wood dusts, solvents, and noise as a part of normal work.  A couple of the team members also work primarily on house renovations and have likely lead and asbestos exposures.  This would mean that there would be a requirement for the PCBU to arrange the following workplace health monitoring for their people.

All staff:

• Audiometry (hearing screen)
• Spirometry (Lung function test)
• A solvent/neurotoxin screening tool

Villa Renovation team:

• Audiometry
• Spirometry
• A solvent/neurotoxin screening tool
• Blood lead test
• Asbestos medical

The HSWA requires that hazards be identified and reduced using the hierarchy of controls.  Worksafe has some helpful information on how to do this here.

PPE (personal protective equipment which includes RPE) is at the bottom of the hierarchy. Where practicable, measures from higher up the hierarchy should be engaged first.  However RPE forms a fundamental element of health hazard risk management.

When using RPE you must ensure that the following has been considered.  Ask yourselves;

• Is this fit for purpose? Will this mask filter out the particles myself or my workers are being exposed to?
• Where does the mask need to be kept to remain free from contamination, both during and after shift?
• How do I clean it? How often do I need to replace parts?
• Does the mask fit properly?  Does it make an effective seal?
• Are the staff educated around all the aspects of RPE? Do they know that facial hair will interfere with the effectiveness of the RPE?  Do we have a plan or strategy to manage this?
• When is Fit testing of Respiratory protective equipment needed?  How often will this be done?

If your staff are exposed to dust or other breathable hazard, and use masks or respirators – these need to be fit tested annually to protect worker health.

Hemisphere Health offers Qualitative (hood method) Fit testing.

We can also offer advice on appropriate RPE choices and train your team members how to wear, check and store their RPE, ensuring they keep protected.

Worksafe has a helpful resource for workplaces on RPE management here.

Get in touch via the ‘request a quote’ form to learn more…

This is another type of workplace health monitoring.  This involves the collection of urine or sometimes blood to measure the levels of a given substance in a workers body.  Some of the common substances used at workplaces in our region which require bio-logical monitoring are

• Copper
• Chromium
• Arsenic
• Lead
• Cobalt

After being contacted by you, our Doctor will arrange for testing to be done, either in a lab or at our Richmond clinic.

The sample is then sent to the laboratory for analysis, and it takes a week or so for the results to come back to us at Hemisphere Health.

These are then reviewed by the Dr and a report sent to the workplace (PCBU).  The report will contain the results and recommendations to the worker and the workplace.