Health Surveillance Medicals Australia | On-Site WHS Compliance Programs
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What our health surveillance programs can support
Employees Health can support employers with health surveillance and health monitoring programs for a range of workplace exposures, including:
- Noise exposure and audiometric testing
- Skin cancer checks for outdoor workers
- Respiratory testing and spirometry
- Mobile chest X-ray coordination where clinically required
Doctor-Led Occupational Health Governance
Health monitoring may be appropriate where workers are exposed to hazardous substances or occupational risks that meet applicable health monitoring criteria. The type and frequency of monitoring depends on the exposure, risk profile, workplace circumstances, applicable WHS requirements and relevant clinical guidance.
Employees Health works with qualified medical practitioners and occupational health professionals to help employers develop and implement surveillance programs informed by workplace risk assessments, applicable legislative requirements and relevant industry standards.
Our team can assist with program design, medical review, interpretation of surveillance outcomes and recommendations for ongoing monitoring where appropriate.
This clinical oversight helps keep health surveillance programs relevant to workplace hazards while providing employers with practical guidance to support worker health and workplace health and safety obligations.
Health surveillance should not be viewed as a standalone activity. It forms part of a broader risk management framework that helps identify potential work-related health effects early and evaluate whether existing control measures remain effective.
- Antimony
- Arsenic (inorganic)
- Benzene
- Beryllium
- Butanone (methyl ethyl ketone, MEK)
- Carbon disulfide
- Chromium (inorganic)
- Cobalt
- Creosote
- Dichloromethane
- Ethyl benzene
- Fluorides (including soluble fluorides and aluminium fluoride)
- Isocyanates
- 4-methylpentan-2-one (methyl isobutyl ketone) MIBK
- Nickel
- Organophosphate pesticides
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
- Styrene
- Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
- Toluene
- Trichloroethylene
- Vinyl chloride
- Uranium
- Xylene
Workers exposed to lead-containing substances in manufacturing, demolition, infrastructure, painting, or industrial environments may require workplace health monitoring under WHS regulations.
Medical tests to monitor workers health due to exposure to hazardous chemicals. Click here
Schedule 14 of the model Work Health and Safety Regulations lists the hazardous chemicals, such as crystalline silica, isocyanates and PAHs, that require health monitoring where there is a significant risk to health. Lead risk work and asbestos work have their own health monitoring requirements.
Exposure to cancer-causing agents at work is common in Australia. The Australian Work Exposures Study estimated that about 3.6 million workers (around 40% of the workforce) may be exposed to at least one carcinogen in their current job, with exposure highest among farmers, drivers, miners and transport workers.
To discuss your WHS obligations, contact our medical team today.
What employers receive
Depending on the program and exposure type, employer reporting may include:
- A fitness-for-work or suitability outcome where appropriate
- Exposure-specific health surveillance reporting
- Recommendations relevant to workplace risk management
- Identification of workers requiring follow-up or further assessment
- De-identified workforce summary reporting where appropriate
- Documentation to support WHS and compliance processes
What workers receive
Workers are supported through a confidential clinical assessment pathway, which may include:
- Medical and occupational history
- Exposure-specific questionnaire
- Physical examination where required
- Spirometry or respiratory testing where relevant
- Audiometry where relevant
- Blood or urine testing where clinically required
- Chest X-ray referral or mobile chest X-ray coordination where required
- Doctor review and follow-up recommendations where indicated
Reporting & Compliance Documentation
Accurate reporting is an essential component of an effective health surveillance program.
Employees Health provides documentation that may assist organisations in meeting workplace health and safety obligations and maintaining appropriate health monitoring records.
Depending on program requirements, documentation may include:
- Individual health surveillance records
- Fitness-for-work outcomes where applicable
- Occupational physician reviews
- Exposure-related monitoring reports
- Hearing assessment reports
- Respiratory health surveillance reports
- Hazard-specific surveillance documentation
- Program summary reports for employers
- Recommendations regarding ongoing monitoring requirements
Our reporting processes are designed to provide employers with relevant health surveillance documentation while maintaining appropriate confidentiality of worker health information.
Employees exposed to asbestos-containing materials may require workplace health monitoring and medical surveillance depending on the nature and circumstances of the exposure and applicable WHS requirements. Employees Health provides asbestos medical checks for workplaces across Australia through on-site occupational health assessments and exposure monitoring programs.
Health Surveillance Across Australian WHS Frameworks
Workplace health surveillance requirements can vary depending on the hazard, level and nature of exposure, workplace circumstances and the applicable state or territory WHS framework. Employees Health supports organisations with health surveillance programs designed around these workplace-specific requirements.
Onsite health monitoring means minimal downtime and disruption.
With years experience in health monitoring and health surveillance across industries, our medical practitioners are experts in all types of exposure and chemicals. They will select the correct pathology and medical tests and assessments to ensure your organisation meets legislative and Worksafe requirements.
Employees Health provides health monitoring programs across all states in Australia including NSW, Victoria, ACT, WA, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Industries We Support
Health surveillance requirements can vary significantly between industries depending on workplace hazards and exposure risks.
Employees Health supports organisations across a broad range of sectors, including:
Construction & Infrastructure
Health surveillance programs for workers exposed to silica, asbestos, noise, dust, vibration, and other workplace hazards.
Manufacturing & Industrial Operations
Monitoring programs supporting exposure risks associated with chemicals, fumes, solvents, machinery, and production environments.
Mining & Resources
Health surveillance services relevant to dust exposure, respiratory hazards, noise exposure, and other industry-specific risks.
Transport & Logistics
Programs supporting workers exposed to noise, vibration, fatigue-related risks, and occupational health hazards.
Energy, Utilities & Infrastructure
Occupational health monitoring for workers operating in high-risk environments and regulated industries.
Healthcare & Community Services
Health monitoring programs supporting worker wellbeing and exposure-related risk management.
Government, Defence & Public Sector
Workplace health surveillance programs tailored to operational requirements and workforce health management needs.
Our programs can be delivered nationally and may be tailored to workplace-specific risk profiles and operational requirements.
What are the benefits?
These medical tests help detect health problems at an early stage which prevents employees from developing serious illnesses. Health monitoring also provides data to better evaluate workplace health risks.
To better understand the risks and requirements for health surveillance for your organisation, contact our friendly team.
Many studies report increased risk of lung cancer in welders or other workers exposed to welding fume. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies welding fume as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence for lung cancer and limited evidence for kidney cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
A common example is silica health monitoring for stonemasons and construction workers, which includes a respiratory questionnaire, spirometry and chest imaging repeated over time. Another is blood lead testing for workers in lead risk jobs. Results are compared to earlier tests to pick up changes that may be linked to work.
Under the model WHS Regulations, a PCBU must provide health monitoring when a worker carries out ongoing work with a significant risk of exposure to a Schedule 14 chemical, or to another hazardous chemical where valid tests are available. There are also specific requirements for lead risk work, asbestos work and audiometric testing for workers who must wear hearing protection.
The terms are often used interchangeably. Australian WHS laws use the term health monitoring, which means monitoring a person to identify changes in their health status because of exposure to certain substances. It is carried out by or under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner with experience in health monitoring.
The employer must pay all costs of required health monitoring. The employer must obtain a report from the doctor, give a copy to the worker, and give a copy to the regulator if it shows the worker may have been harmed or recommends remedial measures. Reports are kept confidential for at least 30 years.
Yes. Employees Health designs doctor-led programs that combine monitoring for different exposures, such as silica, noise and isocyanates, and delivers them onsite at metro, regional and remote workplaces anywhere in Australia. This keeps scheduling and reporting in one place.