Workplace Hazards
Ensure the health and safety of your workforce with professional hygiene monitoring.
Occupational Hygiene Australia provides workplace hazard monitoring services in Perth, WA. Services include; silica dust, asbestos, fumes, noise, chemicals, vibration, heat stress, mould, bacteria, and occupational hygiene assessments.
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.
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-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.
Occupational Hygiene Australia provides professional onsite Audiometric Hearing Testing services across Perth and WA mining, construction, civil, and industrial workplaces. Our competent Audiometric Surveillance Testers and Qualified Noise Officers conduct baseline and ongoing hearing assessments using portable testing equipment, allowing testing to be completed conveniently at your workplace. Audiometric testing is essential for workers exposed to hazardous workplace noise and helps identify early signs of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Conducted in accordance with Australian Standard AS/NZS 1269 and WA Work Health and Safety Regulations, our services support hearing conservation programs, workplace compliance, noise surveys, PPE effectiveness including ear plug fit testing, and worker protection through early detection and monitoring.
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
We assess biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial risks in the workplace by identifying potential exposures and factors that may impact worker health, wellbeing, and productivity. This includes evaluating workplace environments, work practices, manual handling tasks, repetitive movements, fatigue, stress, workload pressures, and indoor biological contaminants such as mould and bacteria. Our assessments help businesses identify hazards early, implement effective control measures, and support safer, healthier workplaces in line with workplace health and safety requirements.
Mould and Bacteria
Mould is a fungus that spreads through tiny airborne spores. Mould is a common indoor biological contaminant that can negatively impact the health of building occupants, while also causing unpleasant odours and damage to building materials and structures. Mould consists of microscopic fungi that grow in multicellular filaments.
Bacteria, often a precursor to mould, thrives in damp contaminated environments and can also contribute to poor indoor air quality and may cause infections or disease.
Both mould and bacteria can develop on a wide range of surfaces including ceilings, carpets, timber, glass, and within heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. They commonly develop in buildings where excess moisture is present and is not always visible. Occupational Hygiene Australia can assess airborne and surface mould and bacterial contamination risks to help maintain a safe and healthy workplace environment.
