Baseline & Compliance Monitoring & Reporting

 

 

Greencap is now part of WSP

WSP Occupational Health and Hygiene

Baseline and compliance monitoring is a regulatory requirement in some states (e.g. respirable crystalline silica in the mining industry).  Workers are normally placed into similar exposure groups (SEG) and a baseline monitoring plan developed based on the numbers of individuals within the SEG.  Compliance monitoring or ongoing monitoring is also regulatory based on the outcome of the baseline and ongoing occupational hygiene personal monitoring results.

Developing a baseline and ongoing monitoring plan is a way for organisations to achieve an acceptable level of risk through identification, assessment and control. A certified occupational hygienist can help with the development of a regulatory compliant assessment process forms part of the overall process of  protecting the health and well-being of workers.

Some organisations choose to include occupational hygiene and health performance in their sustainability plans for shareholders and directors. 
 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is compliance monitoring?

• Compliance monitoring is monitoring a hazard to ensure that workers are not exposed to a level that will cause them illness, or exceed the workplace exposure standards.
• Similar Exposure Groups (SEG) determine what the hazards are and estimates the likely exposure to anyone in a workforce carrying out a similar role. It defines the similar exposure groups in a worksite based on their duties.

What techniques can be used for monitoring compliance?

• Both personal and static/environmental monitoring
  • Personal monitoring focuses on the worker and the processes they undertake
  • Static/environmental monitoring surveys the workplace or environment, ensuring workers aren’t exposed as they move through the environment.
• Reviewing the standard operating procedures used and safety documentation and processes are also an important assessment of compliance.

What is the testing process for compliance monitoring?

• The testing process for compliance monitoring depends on the hazard. Monitoring of the contaminant or hazard needs to be completed to calculate the average dose received by a worker during their shift.
• This exposure can then be assessed against the workplace exposure standard to ensure it is not above the recommended limit.
• Depending on the hazard and worker exposure, the controls may be evaluated to determine if they are appropriate, using the hierarchy of controls, which may recommend a change in the process, working style or personal protective equipment.