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Health and air monitoring

Air monitoring

Air monitoring involves the monitoring of the work environment to ensure that no worker is exposed to a substance or mixture in an airborne concentration that exceeds the exposure standard for that substance or mixture.

Health monitoring and checks

Some activities or work may require checks prior to undertaking the work or activity or ongoing health monitoring. 

Health checks

The below table lists of tasks that require health assessments/examinations/vaccinations prior to performing certain work or working with certain substances or equipment. 

Task/JobHealth assessment/examination/vaccinations
Working with animals
  • Lung function tests for persons at risk (If they have an allergy to animals)
  • See Immunisation guidelines for recommended vaccinations
Working with laser equipment
  • Eye examination
Working with noisy equipment or in noisy environments
  • Hearing assessment
Working with group 3/group 4 human pathogens
  • Initial health assessment
  • Base line serum sample
Working outdoors/ sun exposure
  • Skin examination
Hazardous manual tasks e.g. repetitive lifting, pushing, pulling etc.
  • Functional assessment
Working with Asbestos
  • Medical examination and lung function test only if indicated by medical/work history
Scuba diving
  •  Certificate of medical fitness before diving work or before diving training commences
Working with restricted chemicals
  • Acrylonitrile,
  • Arsenic (inorganic),
  • Benzene,
  • Cadmium,
  • Chromium (inorganic),
  • Creosote,
  • Crystalline Silica,
  • Isocyanates,
  • Lead (inorganic),
  • Mercury (inorganic),
  • 4,4’-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) ,
  • Organophosphate Pesticides,
  • Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH),
  • Pentachlorophenol (PCP),
  • Thallium,
  • Vinyl Chloride
     
  • As per Schedule 14 Requirements for health monitoring of the WHS Regulation 2017
Other activities or work which may require immunisations
  • Working with blood, bodily fluids, blood products, human tissue 
  • Field work in remote areas
  • First aiders
  • Working with sewage, untreated water sources or those potentially contaminated with sewage.
  • Cleaners and maintenance workers
  • Working with soil including gardeners
  • Travel overseas
  • Working with animal scat or manure
  • Working in healthcare
  • Working in childcare

 

Tasks/jobs that require ongoing health monitoring 

Below are a list of tasks/jobs that require ongoing health monitoring. 

Task/Job

Health monitoring requirements
Working with animals
  •  Ongoing Health monitoring / lung function tests for persons at risk
Working with radiation: Sealed and unsealed sources and x-ray
  • Personal dosimetry every 3 months
  • Final dosimetry upon completion of radiation work
Working with group 3/group 4 human pathogens
  • Periodic samples of serum based on risk

Working with restricted chemicals

  • Acrylonitrile,
  • Arsenic (inorganic),
  • Benzene,
  • Cadmium,
  • Chromium (inorganic),
  • Creosote,
  • Crystalline Silica,
  • Isocyanates, 
  • Lead (inorganic),
  • Mercury (inorganic),
  • 4,4’-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) ,
  • Organophosphate Pesticides,
  • Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH),
  • Pentachlorophenol (PCP),
  • Thallium,
  • Vinyl Chloride 
  • As per Schedule 14 Requirements for health monitoring of the WHS Regulation 2017