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Mobile Respiratory Health Monitoring
We at Occupational Health Professionals (OHP) are considered to be a leading provider of respiratory health monitoring services in Australia with over thirty nine years experience. Our mobile health clinics are equipped to perform Spirometry (Lung Function Testing), Chest X- ray and Respiratory Health Assessments, such as Silica and other hazardous agents.
Our respiratory health monitoring programs are overseen by an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registered Occupational Physician, in accordance with WHS Regulations. We will tailor your program to meet the needs of your stakeholders.
What is Health Monitoring?
Health Monitoring involves monitoring individuals in order to identify changes in their health due to occupational exposure to certain hazards or substances. Health Monitoring will include a medical assessment to assess for the presence of early or long-term health effects ((by obtaining a medical and occupational history as well a physical examination, lung function testing (Spirometry) and a Chest X-ray)).
Our Silica Health Assessment is aligned with the Safe Work Australia Guidelines, so we adhere to stringent monitoring requirements. The Lung Function Test (Spirometry) should be conducted at baseline and then annually, whilst Chest X-rays are performed at baseline and then every 5 years in the first 20 years of work. An abnormal X-ray or 20 years of exposure or more necessitates a more frequent X-ray.
Our mobile Silica Health Assessments are conducted by appointment only and must be booked in advance. Whether you require an assessment for an individual employee or a large group, we have the capacity to meet your needs for bulk Silica Health Assessments.
Spirometry (Lung Function Testing) – why choose OHP?
Chest X-Ray – why choose OHP?
Chest X-Ray – why choose OHP?
Respirator Fit Testing – why choose OHP??
Why perform Health Monitoring?
Employers are legally obligated to assess the health of workers throughout their careers, periodically. At OHP, we have been delivering tailored health monitoring for over thirty nine years so we have developed innovative, cost-effective and accurate techniques. Health monitoring is undertaken to ensure the control measures used to eliminate or minimise a worker’s exposures to hazardous levels of airborne contaminants continue to be effective and to prevent occupational lung disease. Health monitoring also aims to identify any possible cases of occupational lung disease at the earliest possible stage so that appropriate treatment can be provided.
What are Occupational Lung Diseases?
These diseases vary greatly in their nature, depending on the hazardous agent and protective measures implemented to reduce or manage the exposure. They may be acute, chronic, malignant, non-malignant or infectious.
The full scale and impact of occupational lung disease in Australia is still unknown, although the numbers are increasing. The significant growing cases of Silicosis and Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis (CWP) over the last fifteen years is of particular concern.
Types of Occupational Lung Disease
There are many different Occupational Lung Diseases. The most common types include:
They are caused by a wide range of hazardous agents, including but not limited to dusts, fibres, fumes and gases.
Depending on the type of hazardous agent someone is exposed to, symptoms may develop immediately or present in months, years or even decades after the exposure. With many occupational lung diseases, symptoms may only present long after exposure to the hazardous agent has stopped, or even after retirement from the workforce.
Silicosis – what is it?
Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by breathing in small particles of Silica dust. Inhaling this dust causes inflammation which overtime, leads to scarring of the lung tissue. This causes stiffening of the lungs, which can make it difficult to breathe.
Exposure to silica dust can also cause:
Who develops Silicosis?
Silica dust is generated when silica-containing materials are cut, crushed, drilled, ground, polished, sanded, sawed – or disturbed with force. If you are exposed to silica dust, you are at risk of developing silicosis.
The risk of developing silicosis primarily depends on how much silica dust you have been exposed to, and for how long you were exposed to it. For example, you may have been exposed to a high level of silica dust over a short duration (weeks or months) or been exposed to a low level of silica dust over a long duration (years).
Symptoms
In most cases, people with silicosis will not experience any symptoms in the early stages. Overtime, if the disease progresses, symptoms may slowly develop, even if exposure to silica dust has ceased. Progression of the disease can vary considerably among individuals.
What does silica health monitoring involve?
Health monitoring required for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) involves a registered medical practitioner with experience in health monitoring examining and monitoring the health of workers to see if exposure to hazardous chemicals at work is affecting worker’s health.
The minimum health monitoring requirements for RCS include:
Who is at most risk?
Industries or work activities that can be considered ‘high risk’ are those that are performed in connection with a Crystalline Silica process that is likely to result in significant airborne concentration of Respirable Silica Dust (RSD), posing a risk to the health of workers.
Examples of work activities involving Crystalline Silica that require special attention when assessing exposure include:
Prescribed Occupational Respiratory Diseases
Effective 22nd May, 2024 Prescribed Occupational Respiratory Diseases are mandatory to report to the registry. Prescribed Occupational Respiratory Diseases vary depending on where the patient is diagnosed. For all states and territories except Queensland, Silicosis is the only prescribed Occupational Respiratory Disease.
QLD ONLY - The following physicians MUST report additional diagnoses of Prescribed Occupational Respiratory Diseases:
If Queensland Physicians notify to the National Registry, they will not need to also notify to the Queensland Register.