Workplace Hazards
Ensure the health and safety of your workforce with professional hygiene monitoring.
Dust
Many work activities can create or release airborne dust into the atmosphere. Personal and positional air monitoring is carried out to evaluate the concentrations of an airborne contaminant exceeds the relevant exposure standard and to determine whether there is a risk to workers health. Dust exposure can be in many forms like Inhalable dust, respirable dust & silica, metals and asbestos fibres.
Asbestos
A person in control of a workplace must ensure that asbestos is identified, and an asbestos register is in place with the location of the asbestos containing material (ACM). An asbestos survey is undertaken to determine the presence of ACM in accordance with Code for the Management and Control of Asbestos in the workplace, an asbestos register is formulated with locations and photographs.
Fumes
Fumes can be generated in the work environment but are highly prevalent in industries and work facilities within manufacturing, mining vehicle repair shops, warehouses, and workshops. Understanding the hazards and the associated control measures enables you and your workers, to work in safer work environment and determine if the hierarchy of controls are working. We conduct personal air monitoring samples for welding fume and diesel particulate matter to determine the workers exposure is below the relevant exposure standards.
Noise
Noise-induced hearing loss is preventable by identifying noise hazards to reduce the risk of noise-related injuries, undertaking personal noise dosimetry to evaluate the personal noise exposure to determine if further control measures are required to prevent noise-induced hearing loss in the workplace.
At Occupational Hygiene Australia, we have Qualified Noise Officers who can conduct personal noise dosimetry assessments and area noise assessments at your workplace to eliminate workers’ exposure to high noise levels, which can cause noise-induced hearing loss.
Radiation
Exploration and mining for minerals containing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM’s) involves specific risks to health, safety and the environment that must be evaluated. Naturally occurring radiation material (NORM’s) samples are collected from workers to determine their exposure is as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).
A comprehensive radiation protection program should be in place to address all sources of occupational radiation exposure at the exploration, mining and/or mineral processing.
Chemicals
It is a requirement under Safe Work Australia that a PCBU must eliminate risks in the workplace, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
The WHS Regulations include more specific requirements for PCBUs to manage the risks of hazardous chemicals, airborne contaminants and plant, as well as other hazards associated with the workplace. Air monitoring may be needed if the airborne concentration of a hazardous chemical is not certain or to find out if the control measures currently in place are keeping the level of airborne hazardous chemicals as low as reasonably practicable.
Occupational Hygiene Australia can assist you with a range of monitoring for hazardous chemicals in the workplace and reporting, and assist with implementation of control measures.
Vibration
Vibration can cause changes in tendons, muscles, bones and joints, and can affect the nervous system. These effects are known as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
Occupational Hygiene Australia conducts assessments of hand, arm and whole-body vibration to workers operating heavy machinery and hand equipment to eliminate or minimise the risk.
Extreme temperatures
Workers who work in extreme temperatures are at risk of hazardous health effects. The human body needs to maintain a steady body temperature of approximately 37 degrees Celsius. If the body has to work too hard to keep cool or starts to overheat a worker begins to suffer from heat-related illness. Symptoms can be fainting, heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
Occupational Hygiene Australia conducts Heat stress assessment on workers exposed to cold and high temperatures in the workplace. We can monitor for air temperature, air flow, humidity, radiant heat sources, work requirements and the workplace itself.
Biological, ergonomic & psychosocial factors
Asses biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial risks by identifying potential exposures.
