Fluorides
Australia Safework Australia
Manufacturing, Construction
Fluorine (as F2) (CAS 7782-41-4):
- is a pale-yellow gas at normal temperature
- smells like ozone
- extremely reactive – organic and hydrogen-containing compounds can burn or explode when exposed to it.
Because of its reactivity, fluorine gas rarely occurs in nature, with fluoride ion more commonly found.
The major uses of fluorides are in: insecticides, floor polishes, petroleum, aluminium, glass and non-metal product etching, timber preservation, making dietary supplements and toothpastes, water treatment, semiconductor industry, making chemicals, solvents and plastics for laundries, corrosion inhibitors, electroplating agents, flux agents for casting or joining, fixing agents, welding and soldering agents, drilling, metal mining and refining, and metal surface treatments.
Baseline Testing
A baseline Fluoride health monitoring medical contains the following tests:
- Demographic, medical, and occupational history
- Spirometry
- Past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Assessment.
- Urinalysis – Blood Protein and Sugar
- Pathology Urinary fluoride level screen.
- Xray at the Doctors Discretion
- KINNECT Dr Sign off
Biological Exposure Windows
Urine samples should be collected at the beginning and at the end of a shift.
Please note this information should be taken into consideration by those planning and administering the health monitoring program.
Periodic Testing
Periodic biological monitoring should be conducted as per the risk assessment. It is commonly conducted at 6 monthly intervals but should be conducted at least annually.
- Pathology – Urinary fluoride level screen (pre & post shift)
- Spirometry
- KINNECT Dr sign off
* May trigger an early periodic health assessment
Exit Testing: Termination of work in a Fluoride process
A fluoride exit medical consists of the following tests.
- Demographic, medical and occupational history
- Spirometry
- Past exposure questionnaire
- Medical review and signoff.
- Pathology Urinary fluoride level screen.
- Urinalysis – Blood Protein and Sugar
- Xray at the Doctors Discretion
- KINNECT Dr Review and Sign off
Further Information
Safework Australia health monitoring guidance for Fluorides (including soluble fluorides and aluminium fluoride):
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