The KINNECT Guide
The Different Types of Health Monitoring
The type of health monitoring required changes throughout a worker’s employment. Learn more about how this works.
Health Monitoring changes throughout employment
There are different types of health monitoring that occur depending the stage of employment and the hazardous substance or risk factor they are exposed to.
Baseline Monitoring
Baseline or Initial health monitoring takes place before the worker begins employment so that any future changes to their health can be detected.
Periodic Monitoring
Health monitoring may be conducted regularly during a worker’s period of employment or at set intervals after exposure to a hazardous substance.
Exit Monitoring
The final stage of health monitoring is conducted when a worker ceases employment or finishes working with the hazardous substance.
Baseline Monitoring / Initial Monitoring
Information that must be provided and/or collected for Baseline Monitoring
The specific information collected during Baseline or Initial Monitoring can vary and will depend on the scheme or the substance triggering the monitoring program (you can see specific requirements if you search our hazardous exposure directory), however is likely to include a number of key elements. Information you’ll need to provide or data that will be collected at this stage include:
Demographic data —provided by the PCBU
- name and date of birth of the worker.
Details of the work—provided by the PCBU
- a description of the work that triggered the requirement for health monitoring
- details of control measures used in current work, including whether suitable personal protective equipment is used, and
- if the worker has started that work, how long the worker has been carrying out that work.
Additional information that should be provided includes:
- a list of the hazardous chemicals that the worker is or will be exposed to
- the dates that the worker last used the chemicals
- the safety data sheet (SDS) for the chemicals, and
- relevant risk assessment reports, details of workplace exposure standards and results of any air monitoring carried out at the workplace.
Risk assessment reports should contain information about:
- likely exposures at the workplace
- control measures that are in place to minimise exposure
- investigations of results where workplace exposure standards have been exceeded, or
- where surface wipe testing indicates accumulation of chemicals on surfaces.
Previous work history—collected by the registered medical practitioner
- past work history, including previous known or suspected exposures to the hazardous chemical currently being used and other hazardous chemicals, and
- potential for exposure in current work.
Medical history—collected by the registered medical practitioner
- presence of symptoms that may be due to or exacerbated by exposure
- relevant medical conditions that may increase health risk from exposure, and
- other relevant information, for example smoking history.
Physical examinations and biological monitoring
Physical examinations may be required during initial monitoring. If a physical examination is required, it will place emphasis on the target organs or systems that may be affected. For some chemicals a physical examination is only required if work and medical history indicates this is necessary, such as where symptoms are present. In other cases, collection and analysis of biological samples, for example urine or blood may also be required.
Details of the physical examinations required for different monitoring items can be found in our hazardous exposure directory.
Proactive discussions about the health monitoring program
A proactive discussion about the health monitoring program should be conducted with the worker. Information about the program including what is involved, for example the frequency and type of testing, and information about the effects of exposure to the particular substance and how to recognise and report symptoms should be provided to the worker.
Discussions should also include instances when health monitoring may change. For example, this may be required if it is indicated by test results or symptoms or if a worker falls pregnant.
During Work Monitoring / Periodic / Post Exposure
The purpose of monitoring health during employment is to detect small changes that could indicate an adverse effects that impact on a worker’s health. This type of monitoring may occur at regular intervals (period monitoring i.e.; annually) or after exposure to a particular substance or chemical.
Information that must be collected / provided
The specific information collected for health monitoring during employment can vary significantly depending on the scheme or the substance triggering the monitoring program (you can see specific requirements if you search our hazardous exposure directory), however is likely to include a number of key elements. Information you’ll need to provide or data that will be collected at this stage include:
Demographic data —provided by the PCBU
- name and date of birth of the worker.
Details of the work—provided by the PCBU
- a description of the work that triggered the requirement for health monitoring
- details of control measures used in current work, including whether suitable personal protective equipment is used, and
- if the worker has started that work, how long the worker has been carrying out that work.
Previous work history—collected by the registered medical practitioner
- past work history, including previous known or suspected exposures to the hazardous chemical currently being used and other hazardous chemicals, and
- potential for exposure in current work.
Medical history—collected by the registered medical practitioner
- presence of symptoms that may be due to or exacerbated by exposure
- relevant medical conditions that may increase health risk from exposure, and
- other relevant information, for example smoking history.
Physical examinations
Physical examinations may be required. If a physical examination is required, it will place emphasis on the target organs or systems that may be affected. For some chemicals a physical examination is only required if work and medical history indicates this is necessary, such as where symptoms are present.
Biological monitoring
The collection and analysis of biological samples, for example urine or blood may also be required.
The Health Monitoring Report
After the assessment is carried out, a health monitoring report will be provided to your company as soon as practical.
What happens if a worker has symptoms relating to exposure?
Should test results or symptoms indicate the worker has been exposed to a hazardous chemical that has triggered health monitoring and is suffering from symptoms or a health condition due to exposure, the supervising registered medical practitioner may make a recommendation to have the worker removed from work.
If this occurs, you will be required to remove the worker immediately from carrying out such work. This recommendation should be provided with a request for review of control measures.
It is important that if the decision for removal is based on the results of biological tests and that the results are confirmed either through re-testing the sample or collecting a subsequent sample.
What happens if there is an abnormal pathology finding?
The pathology laboratory has a legislated responsibility to report a significant pathology finding to the various State and Territory Public Health Units.
The Public Health unit will contact KINNECT to obtain the details of the supervising medical practitioner and the following information:
- Previous Occupational Exposure history of the worker
- Occupational Exposure detailed by the Company including environment and PPE
- Date of current exposure, if required.
If KINNECT does not have this information we notify the Public Health Unit of the Companies details so they can follow-up with your Supervising Medical Practitioner.
Returning to Work
Should a worker be removed from work, they must not return to work until they have been assessed as medically fit and, where relevant, test results are below the biological exposure standard. This should include an assessment of resolution of symptoms and remediation undertake.. The registered medical practitioner must formally recommend the worker can return to work with the specified chemical.
In some cases such as lead, there are specific regulatory requirements (e.g. blood lead levels) for the worker to return to work.
Exit Monitoring / Termination of Monitoring
A final medical examination should be conducted when the worker has finished working with the chemical that triggered health monitoring. As with baseline monitoring, the focus of the final medical examination varies for individual chemicals and may involve collection of biological samples.
Information that must be collected / provided
The specific information collected for health monitoring during employment can vary significantly depending on the scheme or the substance triggering the monitoring program, however will place an emphasis of any symptoms of conditions observed during the health monitoring program.
The Health Monitoring Report
After the assessment is carried out, a final health monitoring report will be provided to your company as soon as practical.
What happens if a worker has ongoing symptoms relating to exposure?
Workers with continuing symptoms of exposure or health conditions due to exposure should be advised to seek continuing medical examinations.
Health Monitoring for Respiratory Hazards
The requirements for health monitoring of respiratory hazards are underpinned by risk assessments conducted in accordance with applicable work health and safety legislation. The risk assessment is informed by the nature of the hazard and exposure patterns.
FAQ
How do you know if you should be providing health monitoring for your employees?
The law is clear. Companies must ensure health monitoring is provided to a worker if the worker:
- is carrying out ongoing work using, handling, generating or storing hazardous chemicals, and there is a significant risk to the worker’s health because of exposure to a hazardous chemical listed in Schedule 14 to the WHS Regulations
- is carrying out ongoing work using, handling, generating or storing hazardous chemicals and there is a significant risk the worker will be exposed to hazardous chemicals other than those listed in Schedule 14 and either
- valid techniques are available to detect the effect on the worker’s health, or
- a valid way of determining exposure is available and it is uncertain on reasonable grounds whether exposure has resulted in the biological exposure standard being exceeded
- commences or is conducting lead risk work, or
- is carrying out licensed asbestos removal or other asbestos related work.
How do you determine if the risk is significant?
Significant risk decisions are made taking into consideration the likelihood of exposure to a hazardous chemical in conjunction with the known health effects of the chemical.
- You should consider instigating a health monitoring program for chemicals with severe known health effects, for example chemicals that are known, or are presumed to be, carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to human reproduction, respiratory or skin sensitisers or those with other known severe toxic effects.
- KINNECT can help by facilitating consultation with a Supervising Doctor who can provide expert advise on how to instigate a health monitoring program with chemicals with severe known health effects.
Search our
Hazardous Exposure Directory.
KINNECT’s comprehensive guide to all the different monitoring requirements for chemicals, workplace hazards and legislative medicals.
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