Book asbestos medicals and workplace health surveillance for workers involved in asbestos removal, demolition, construction, remediation and maintenance. Employees Health coordinates initial and periodic medical assessments, with onsite and clinic-based options across Australia.
24-hour medicals and reporting available for eligible bookings, subject to clinical requirements and appointment availability.
Asbestos health monitoring may be required for workers carrying out asbestos-related work where there is a risk of exposure. Safe Work Australia guidance indicates that health monitoring should be provided before commencement of asbestos-related work and at regular intervals thereafter, including at least every two years where exposure risk exists.
Employees Health supports organisations with asbestos medical surveillance programs aligned with workplace health monitoring obligations and current guidance
How often should health monitoring be done?
Health monitoring should also be provided to workers at regular intervals (at least once every two years) after the worker commences asbestos-related work where there is a risk of exposure to asbestos.
Our asbestos medical surveillance program is aligned with the Safe Work Australia Guidelines, which provide comprehensive recommendations for managing asbestos-related risks in the workplace. These guidelines outline the responsibilities of employers and workers, risk assessment and management strategies, and measures to protect workers from asbestos exposure.
Our asbestos program includes asbestos medical assessment and ongoing asbestos medicals depending on the worker’s role, exposure risk and clinical requirements.
Before commencing work in environments with potential asbestos exposure, workers have a baseline health assessment to record their health status before exposure begins, so any later changes can be identified and compared.
Regular medical examinations are conducted at specified intervals to monitor workers’ health status and detect any changes or abnormalities that may indicate asbestos-related diseases. These examinations may include lung function tests, chest X-rays, and other diagnostic tests as recommended by healthcare professionals.
Comprehensive health monitoring records are maintained for each employee participating in the asbestos medical surveillance program. These records include results of medical examinations, diagnostic tests, and any relevant health information, ensuring continuity of care and facilitating timely interventions when necessary.
We prioritise education and training initiatives to raise awareness among employees about the risks of asbestos exposure and the importance of adhering to safety protocols. Training programs cover topics such as asbestos awareness, proper handling and disposal procedures, and personal protective equipment (PPE) usage.
With 30+ years of medical and occupational-health experience, led by Chief Medical Officer Dr Mike Shenouda, Employees Health supports employers with coordinated asbestos medical assessments, clinical reporting and ongoing workforce health monitoring across Australia.
Employees Health supports organisations across Australia with occupational health and health surveillance services. We provide a compliance-focused, responsive service model suited to onsite, regional and multi-site workforces.
Our approach includes:
Contact Us
For more information about our asbestos medical surveillance program or to discuss your specific needs, please contact us at Employees Health. Our team of experts is here to support you in safeguarding the health and well-being of your workforce.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2001); Toxicological profile for Asbestos.
Australian Bureau of Statistics at http://www.abs.gov.au/
Chemical analysis branch handbook, 9th Edition, Workplace and biological monitoring exposure analysis, WorkCover NSW (PDF 3.39MB).
De Klerk, N., Henderson, D., Jones, M, Leigh, J, Musk, A.W., Shilkin, K. and Williams, V. (2002) The diagnosis and attribution of asbestos-related diseases in an Australian context, Adelaide Workshop on Asbestos-Related Diseases, J Occup Health Safety – Aust NZ, 18(5): 443-452.
National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (1999); Chrysotile Asbestos; Priority Existing Chemical No. 9; Full Public Report.
Safe Work Australia (2013); Workplace Exposure Standards for Airborne Contaminants
Safe Work Australia; Hazardous Chemicals Information System
Asbestos Exposure Health Risks
You can also access additional guidance, legislation and supporting documents through our Resources page.
Health monitoring must be provided to workers carrying out licensed asbestos removal work, or other ongoing asbestos removal or asbestos-related work, who are at risk of exposure. For licensed removal work, it must start before the worker begins the work. Workers must also be told about the health monitoring requirements before doing any work that may expose them to asbestos.
Unless the supervising doctor recommends another type, asbestos health monitoring must include the worker’s demographic, medical and occupational history, records of personal exposure, and a physical examination. The doctor may also recommend a respiratory questionnaire, lung function testing or chest imaging based on the worker’s history.
The model Code of Practice says health monitoring should be provided at regular intervals, at least once every two years, after a worker starts asbestos-related work where there is a risk of exposure. The supervising doctor may recommend a different frequency based on the level and history of exposure.
Asbestos health monitoring reports must be kept as a confidential record for at least 40 years after they are made, which is longer than the 30 years that applies to most hazardous chemicals. The longer period reflects how long asbestos-related diseases can take to develop. Reports must not be shared without the worker’s written consent, except in limited cases such as notifying the regulator.
The worker may be referred for further investigation or specialist review, and the doctor may make recommendations about work duties or ongoing monitoring. If the report advises that the worker may have contracted a disease from the work or recommends remedial measures, the employer must give a copy to the WHS regulator as soon as practicable.
Yes. Employees Health provides asbestos medicals onsite for removal, demolition, remediation and maintenance teams, and at clinics, anywhere in Australia. We can coordinate group and multi-site programs, with 24-hour medicals and reporting available for eligible bookings.
If your organisation requires asbestos health surveillance medicals, contact Employees Health to discuss your workforce, locations and compliance requirements.
