Health Monitoring Medicals for Workers
Exposed to Crystalline Silica Dust
The health risks of exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), including deadly silicosis, are a major threat to the health of Australian construction and manufacturing workers.
KINNECT holds extensive experience in the evaluation and monitoring of RCS medicals and currently coordinates programs for many large multinational organisations working in the tunnelling, mining, and construction industries.
KINNECT’s Occupational Health Doctors hold membership with Royal College of General Practitioners. They have extensive Occupational Health experience (25 years+) providing pre-employment medicals, hazardous substance surveillance, injury management and other occupational health services. Their scope includes work within the construction industry, the transport industry, the mining sector, defence, and the Government. Our Doctors hold a competency level 4 in health surveillance for all hazardous substances, including RCS.
What are the Dangers of
Respirable Crystalline Silica?
Respirable crystalline silica, or RCS, is a hazardous chemical commonly found in aggregates, mortar, concrete, and stone.
Regular exposure (inhalation) to RCS may lead to the onset of symptoms including respiratory irritation, shortness of breath and asthma. Workers who are frequently exposed to crystalline silica at high levels may develop acute silicosis (lung fibrosis). Silicosis is a progressive condition that can cause dyspnoea (shortness of breath) and even death.
Examples of work activities involving RCS which require special attention when assessing exposure include:
- excavation, earth moving and drilling plant operations
- clay and stone processing machine operations
- paving and surfacing
- mining and mineral ore treating processes
- construction labouring activities
- brick, concrete or stone cutting, especially using dry methods
- abrasive blasting—blasting agent must not contain >1 per cent crystalline silica foundry casting.
Legislative Requirements for
Respirable Crystalline Silica Health Monitoring
Safe Work Australia classifies crystalline silica as a hazardous chemical that requires health monitoring of any employees who are exposed to it. KINNECT can conduct crystalline silica medicals according to the following frameworks and regulations:
Safe Work Australia Resources Safety and Health Queensland WorkSafe Western Australia
Safe Work Australia
Safe Work Australia classifies crystalline silica as a hazardous chemical that requires health monitoring of any employees who are exposed to it. Employees working around respirable crystalline silica (RCS) must undergo periodic health monitoring as per Safe Work Australia standards. With respect to Health Monitoring of Crystalline Silica Exposure, the recommended schedule is as follows:
Pre-Employment: Crystalline Silica Medical completed at pre-employment. All future results will be compared to this to determine any changes in an employees lung function;
Periodic (Annually) : Crystalline Silica Medical to be completed annually while an employee is working in the hazardous environment;
Post Employment: Crystalline Silica Medical to be conducted once an employee finishes working in the hazardous environment.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT CRYSTALLINE SILICA MEDICAL
A pre-employment baseline crystalline silica health monitoring medical contains the following tests:
- Respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Examination with particular focus on the respiratory system
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Medical Review and Sign-off by Appointed Medical Practitioner
- ILO Chest X-ray
PERIODIC CRYSTALLINE SILICA MEDICAL
A periodic crystalline silica health monitoring medical should be conducted annually and contains the following tests:
- Respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Examination with particular focus on the respiratory system
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Medical Review and Sign-off by Appointed Medical Practitioner
- Chest x-ray (if clinically indicated or if previous chest x-ray was 5 years prior)
POST EMPLOYMENT CRYSTALLINE SILICA MEDICAL
A post employment crystalline silica health monitoring medical contains the following tests:
- Respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Examination with particular focus on the respiratory system
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Medical Review and Sign-off by Appointed Medical Practitioner
- Chest x-ray
Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ)
As on the 1st September 2020, RSHQ made changes to the Mining and Quarrying Safety Regulation, to ensure that mine and quarry workers are provided with periodic respiratory health surveillance.
The new requirements assist in the early detection of respiratory diseases, including silicosis, by providing consistent and quality respiratory examinations to protect all Queensland miners whether they work in coal, mineral mines or quarries.
The changes require:
- respiratory health surveillance for workers prior to commencing work in the mineral mine and quarry industry and then at least once every five years (unless the risk is very low);
- best practice examinations including spirometry and chest X-ray dual-read by qualified radiologists to the international standard;
- exit respiratory health examinations for workers leaving the industry upon their request; and
- access to free screening for retired and former workers.
It is important to note that, mineral mine and quarry operators have until 1 September 2022 to transition their systems and processes and ensure that workers have been provided respiratory health surveillance, however it has been recommended that operators within these environments transition to the new standard immediately.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT CRYSTALLINE SILICA MEDICAL
A pre-employment baseline crystalline silica health monitoring medical contains the following tests:
- Respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Examination with particular focus on the respiratory system conducted by an Examining Medical Officer
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Medical Review and Sign-off by Appointed Medical Advisor
- ILO Chest X-ray with dual-read by qualified Radiologist
PERIODIC CRYSTALLINE SILICA MEDICAL
A periodic crystalline silica health monitoring medical should be conducted every 5 years and contains the following tests:
- Respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire
- Respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Examination with particular focus on the respiratory system conducted by an Examining Medical Officer
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Medical Review and Sign-off by Appointed Medical Advisor
- ILO Chest X-ray with dual-read by qualified Radiologist
POST EMPLOYMENT CRYSTALLINE SILICA MEDICAL
A post employment crystalline silica health monitoring medical contains the following tests:
- Respiratory function and past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Examination with particular focus on the respiratory system conducted by an Examining Medical Officer
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Medical Review and Sign-off by Appointed Medical Advisor
- ILO Chest X-ray with dual-read by qualified Radiologist
WorkSafe Western Australia
In 2020, Worksafe Western Australia introduced a state specific legislation with respect to the health surveillance of those workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust. Below defines the health monitoring requirements for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT CRYSTALLINE SILICA MEDICAL
A pre-employment baseline crystalline silica health monitoring medical (conducted on Worksafe WA paperwork) containing the following tests:
- Work and exposure history
- Respiratory questionnaire and medical history
- Physical examination
- An initial Chest X-ray
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Medical Review and Sign-off by Appointed Medical Advisor
PERIODIC CRYSTALLINE SILICA MEDICAL
An annual crystalline silica health monitoring medical (conducted on Worksafe WA paperwork) containing the following tests:
- Work and exposure history
- Respiratory questionnaire and medical history
- Physical examination
- Chest X-ray (every 2 years)
- Spirometry (lung function) test
- Medical Review and Sign-off by Appointed Medical Advisor
Additional Resources
Worksafe Queensland
Safe Work Australia
WorkSafe VictoriaOur Health Surveillance Guide
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