8 - Summary of cost information for use of occupational hygienists Use of occupational hygienists Business size Count of survey respondents using management practice Likelihood of using an occupational hygienist Frequency of using an occupational hygienist Average annualised cost Occupational hygienist Small 9 35% Annually $2,250 Medium 27 34% Annually $11,705 Large 98 73% Quarterly $269,686 Estimating the count of businesses in Australia that use controls 9 summarises the list of sub-industries selected in which businesses are considered to have regular exposure to hazardous chemicals that have a workplace exposure standard. The corresponding industry and tier are also included in the table. Table 9 - Count of business by industry for each tier Tier Industry Business size of businesses 1 Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Small 4,005 Medium 338 Large 9 Mining Small 2,819 Medium 380 Large 152 Manufacturing Small 31,484 Medium 3,924 Large 301 Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services Small 2,158 Medium 205 Large 25 Construction Small 142,466 Medium 4,218 Large 163 2 Wholesale trade, Retail trade, Accommodation and Food Services, Transport, Postal and Warehousing, Information Media and Telecommunications, Financial and Insurance Services, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, Administrative and Support Services, Public Administration and Safety, Education and Training, Health care and Social Assistance, Arts and Recreational Services, Other Services 29,082 Medium 1,546 Large 136 Based on these selected industries, 223,412 businesses are assumed to have regular exposure to hazardous chemicals. Of these, 212,014 are small business, 10,611 are medium business and 786 are large business. Not all of these 223,412 businesses are considered to be aware of the workplace exposure standards. Based on the business survey responses, approximately 22 per cent of small businesses, 14 per cent of medium businesses and 7 per cent of large businesses were not aware of the workplace exposure standards. This may be due to the business survey respondents operating in businesses where workplace exposure standards are not required, or due to a genuine unawareness of the workplace exposure standards. Given the business survey was circulated specifically to businesses that were registered on relevant hazardous chemical subscriber mailing lists; it is assumed that the latter is more
Partially-enclosed fume cupboard Small 31,057 Medium 2,133 Large 315 Robotics 5,176 Medium 2,662 Large 106 Local exhaust ventilation Small 19,466 Medium 5,520 495 Other Small 15,528 Medium 1,505 Large 106 Table 12 - Estimated count of businesses using administrative controls in Australia Control Business size Estimated count of businesses using control in Australia Work policies Small 72,466 Medium 7,903 Large 571 Table 13 - Estimated count of businesses using PPE in Australia Control Business size Estimated count of businesses using control in Australia Chemical resistance glasses Small 67,290 Medium 7,527 Large 484 Face shield or goggles 98,346 Medium 7,652 593 Respirators Small 77,642 Medium 8,028 Large 571 Gloves Small 108,699 Medium 8,907 636 Control Business size Estimated count of businesses using control in Australia Long-sleeved work shirts, trousers, hats Small 82,818 Medium 8,028
$361,509 $281,174 $70,293 PPE Small $653 $306 $76 Medium $3,197 $2,394 $599 Large $171,830 $116,138 $29,035 Air monitoring Small $1,071 $154 $39 Medium $4,576 $1,503 $376 Large $220,002 $132,001 $33,000 Occupational hygienist $2,592 $840 $210 Medium $12,206 $4,708 $1,177 Large $260,055 $182,038 $45,510
7. Please describe how your workplace may be exposed to substances that can cause airborne contamination. (please tick all relevant points below). [My business does not manufacture or use substances that can airborne contamination My business manufactures substances that can airborne contamination My business manufactures products that use substances in the production process that can cause airborne contamination My business services equipment/machinery that manufactures or handles substances that can airborne contamination My business is an importer, wholesaler or retailer of substances that can cause airborne contamination My business is an end-user of substances that can cause airborne contamination Other [free text box]] [tick allow multiple choices] 8. Approximately how many workers (i.e. employees and/or contractors) in your business are regularly at risk of exposure to substances that can cause airborne contamination? (please enter a number between 1 and 1,000,000) [number only field] 9. What type of airborne contaminants are employees in your business exposed to? (please tick all that apply) (please refer to page 2 of for more information). (e.g. silica dust, coal dust) Fibres (e.g. asbestos fibres) Fumes (e.g. welding fumes) Mists (e.g. pesticide mist, chrome-plating mist) Smokes (e.g. emissions from coke Vapours (e.g. solvent vapours, chlorinated hydro-carbons) Gases (e.g. carbon monoxide, chlorine, hydrogen sulphide) Biological agents (e.g. pollen, influenza virus)] [tick allow multiple options] Section 3 – Compliance with the workplace exposure standards This section seeks to understand how your business complies with Australia’s workplace exposure standards. 10. Is your business aware of the workplace exposure standards and the compliance requirements for airborne contaminants that apply in Australia? [Yes, I am aware of the standards and am aware of the compliance requirements Yes, I am aware of the standards but am not aware of the compliance requirements No] [tick boxes, one option only] 11 In your opinion, approximately what percentage of businesses in your industry would regularly comply with the workplace exposure standards? (comment is optional)