Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00417:body:0:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00417
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 21210–24163

person identifies that because of ongoing work carried out by a worker using, handling, generating or storing hazardous chemicals there is a significant risk that the worker will be exposed to a hazardous chemical (other than a hazardous chemical referred to in Schedule 14, table 14.1) and either:
— valid techniques are available to detect the effect on the worker's health; or
— a valid way of determining biological exposure to the hazardous chemical is available  and it is uncertain, on reasonable grounds, whether the exposure to the hazardous               chemical has resulted in the biological exposure standard being exceeded.
Health monitoring of a person means monitoring the person to identify changes in the person's health status because of exposure to certain substances. It involves the collection of data in order to evaluate the effects of exposure to determine whether or not the absorbed dose is within safe levels. This allows decisions to be made about implementing ways to eliminate or minimise the worker's risk of exposure, for example, reassigning a worker to other duties that involve less exposure or improving control measures.
Substances commonly encountered during abrasive blasting (either in the blasting medium or the surface being blasted) that may require health monitoring to be carried out include:
    * asbestos
    * crystalline silica
    * cadmium
    * inorganic arsenic
    * inorganic chromium, and
    * inorganic lead.
Health monitoring, which may include biological monitoring, can assist in:
    * establishing whether an identifiable disease or health effect known to be linked to exposure to dust, chemicals or noise has occurred
    * determining levels of toxic substances in the body so that informed decisions can be made about the effectiveness of control measures and whether any further action needs to be taken (e.g. a reduction in or cessation of exposure).
Biological monitoring is a way of assessing exposure to hazardous chemicals that may have been absorbed through the skin, ingested or inhaled, therefore, biological monitoring techniques should also be used. For example, workers exposed to lead may require biological monitoring to measure the level of lead in their blood.

Biological monitoring has the specific advantage of being able to take into account individual responses to particular hazardous chemicals. Individual responses are influenced by factors including size, fitness, personal hygiene, work practices, smoking and nutritional status.
A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that where health monitoring must
be provided to a worker, the type of health monitoring referred to in the WHS Regulations is provided unless:
    * an equal or better type of health monitoring is available, and
    * the use of that other type of monitoring is recommended by a registered medical practitioner with experience in health monitoring.
Health monitoring is