A Holistic Approach To Worker Health

JTA has seen an increased focus from regulators, government agencies and proactive organisations in seeking out a holistic approach to worker health management. Organisations looking to conform or align to AS/NZS ISO 450001 can incorporate a Health and Hygiene Management Plan into their management system.

Health and Safety Legislation includes a range of obligations for employers to ensure the health of workers; and to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health including the following;

• Safe plant and systems of work
• Monitoring the health of workers
• Monitoring conditions at any workplace
• Ensuring exposure standards are not exceeded
• Conducting health monitoring and maintaining health records

An Occupational Health and Hygiene Management Plan sets out a systematic process for the management of worker health and organisational risk and compliance.

Health and hygiene risk assessment and the determination of plans to control the risk is a specialist function recommended to be performed by an Occupational Hygienist. Often monitoring and measurement of health and hygiene hazards is conducted on an adhoc basis with Hygienists given very limited scopes and resources often not being assigned to the hazards with the greatest risk. 

What Is A Health And Hygiene Plan?

A Health and Hygiene Management Plan process sets the organisation up for effective resource allocation and improved compliance. The contents of a Health and Hygiene Plan generally includes the following:

• Legislative obligations
  Details of the legislative obligations for the management of organisational specific hazards.
• Risk assessment 
  Identification of health hazards, including the current adequacy of controls and recommendations to improve control. 
• Roles and responsibilities
  Details of the roles and responsibilities of those within the organisation and those supporting them including occupational hygienists and medical professionals.
• Measurement and monitoring
  - Recommendations for the initial and ongoing measurement of worker exposure through investigations including site inspection and review, air monitoring or biological monitoring as required.
  - Recommendations for ongoing worker health monitoring including audiometric testing, vaccination, medical examinations and medical tests.

During this process the workforce are divided into similar exposure groups (SEGs) to ensure a detailed assessment and ongoing plan which focuses resources where they are most required.

Hazards which are typically included in the assessment include Physical, Chemical, Biological and Radiological hazards as detailed below with the plan tailored to the organisation’s operations.

Health Hazards

Typical health hazards included in a Health and Hygiene Management Plan:

• Physical
  Noise
  Vibration (Hand arm / Whole body)
• Chemical (Particulate, mists, vapours, fumes, gases)
  Dust 
  Crystalline Silica (RCS)
  Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
  Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
  Isocyanates
  Combustion Gases 
  Asbestos
  Welding fumes
• Biological
  Bacteria
  Viruses
  Parasites
• Radiological
  Electromagnetic Radiation (EMF)
  Ionising Radiation
  Non Ionising Radiation (including UV)

A skilled Hygienist will assess your workplace and work with you to understand your business and identify potential risks to your workers. By evaluating these risks and their severity, they are able to recommend an Occupational Hygiene Management Plan to maintain a safe working environment.