Nickel
Australia Safework Australia
Transportation and Warehousing, Manufacturing, Mining and Quarrying
Nickel (CAS 7440-02-0) is a hard, silver-white metal that exists naturally in the earth’s crust. Small amounts of Nickel can be found in food, water, air and soil. Examples of work activities involving exposure to nickel include:
- nickel refining
- making, welding and cutting stainless steel and nickel alloys
- nickel plating and electroplating
- packing nickel powders and alloys
- maintaining plant and equipment for nickel processes.
Baseline Testing
A baseline Nickel health monitoring medical contains the following tests:
- Work and medical history
- Respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Examination with particular focus on dermatological and respiratory systems
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Pathology – Urinary Nickel level at the end of shift
- KINNECT Dr Review and Sign off
Periodic Testing
At a minimum, Biological Monitoring for Nickel should be conducted annually as per risk assessment and contain the following tests:
- Pathology – Urinary Nickel level
- KINNECT Dr Review and Sign off
* May trigger an early periodic health assessment
Exit Testing (termination of work in a Nickel process)
A final Nickel health monitoring medical contains the following tests:
- Work and medical history
- Respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Examination with particular focus on dermatological and respiratory systems
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Pathology – Urinary Nickel level at the end of shift
- KINNECT Dr Review and Sign off
Biological Exposure Windows
Urine samples should be collected at the end of a shift.
Please note this information should be taken into consideration by those planning and administering the health monitoring program.
Further Information
Safework Australia health monitoring guidance for Nickel:
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/health-monitoring-guide-nickel
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