Health Monitoring
Protect your people and stay compliant by regularly monitoring employees who work with hazardous substances.
Trusted by leading Australian employers.
What Is Health Monitoring?
Health monitoring (also known as ‘health surveillance’) is testing conducted on workers who are exposed to hazardous substances.
Tests must be conducted by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional on behalf of the worker’s employer, and include both baseline testing and ongoing monitoring.
Health monitoring for applicable workers is required by law in all Australian jurisdictions.
We support thousands of organisations maintain worksafe standards and ensure you meet your legal obligations to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace environment.
When Is Health Monitoring Required?
You need to provide health monitoring for a worker when the following conditions are met:
- The worker is conducting ongoing work.
- The work involves using, handling, generating or storing hazardous substances.
- Due to that exposure, there is a significant risk to the worker’s health.
Exactly when those criteria are met needs to be determined by you, your risk management team, and your workplace health partner.
Use the below table as a guide to whether an exposure scenario could constitute ‘significant risk’.
Level of Exposure | Known Control Measures Are in Place | Not All Known Control Measures Are in Place |
Exposure is well below a level that could harm health* | Monitoring may not be required | Monitoring may not be required |
Exposure is at a level that could harm health* | Monitoring may not be required | Monitoring required |
Exposure to a chemical that is highly toxic | Monitoring may not be required | Monitoring required |
It is reasonably foreseeable that leaks or spills may occur | Monitoring may not be required | Monitoring required |
Uncertain about the risk to health or level of exposure | Monitoring required | Monitoring required |
* Where a workplace exposure standard (WES) for an airborne contaminant has been established, exposure over 50 per cent of the WES indicates controls may not be adequate.
Table adapted from WorkSafe Queensland.
Common Hazards We Screen For
Types Of Health Monitoring Tests
Baseline Tests
Periodic Monitoring
We Work In Accordance With All State Legislation Requirements.
Health Monitoring Process
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Health Monitoring FAQs
If a worker is exposed to any of the following chemicals in an ongoing capacity, and at levels that pose a significant risk to their health, a health monitoring program should be implemented.
- Acrylonitrile
- Arsenic (inorganic)
- Benzene
- Cadmium
- Chromium (inorganic)
- Creosote
- Crystalline silica
- Isocyanates
- Lead (inorganic)
- Mercury (inorganic)
- 4,4' methylene bis (2-chloroaniline) (MOCA)
- Organophosphate pesticides
- Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
- Thallium
- Vinyl chloride
Some states or territories may specify additional substances that are considered hazardous substances. You can view the full list of SafeWork Australia monitoring guides here.
Keep in mind that, even if a hazardous substance is not specified by name in regulations, you’ll still generally have to monitor its effects on worker health if there are valid ways to monitor health impacts or exposure levels.
Requirements around health monitoring are generally detailed in each state or territory’s health and safety Acts (and delegated legislation). For example, Western Australian surveillance requirements are stipulated by the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA); Queensland requirements are stipulated by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (QLD) and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (QLD).
The person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), which is normally the exposed worker’s employer, pays for all health monitoring-related expenses, including testing costs, travel costs, medical bills, and required time off work.
Generally, you’ll need to provide copies of any health monitoring reports for a worker to:
- the worker themselves
- the relevant regulator (only if health impacts have been detected or exposure levels have been exceeded)
- other PCBUs that also engage the worker in question.
Keep in mind that requirements may vary between jurisdictions.
Health monitoring tests vary between hazardous substances. In most cases, your medical practitioner will review the worker’s demographic, medical and occupational history, check their exposure records, and conduct a physical examination.
Other tests include:
- urinary tests
- blood tests
- health and function questionnaires
- respiratory function tests
- skin inspections
- X-rays.
Your medical practitioner may also provide health advice in relation to symptoms and safety best practices.
