Product Overview

Summary: This SOP sets out a structured, legally defensible approach to employee health surveillance and monitoring in Australian workplaces. It helps organisations systematically track work-related health risks, protect workers from long-term harm, and demonstrate compliance with WHS duties around exposure to hazardous substances, noise, and other occupational risks.

Employee health surveillance and monitoring is a critical element of a robust WHS management system, particularly where workers may be exposed to hazardous chemicals, noise, dust, vibration, or other occupational health risks. This Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, end-to-end framework for planning, implementing, and reviewing health monitoring programs that align with Australian WHS legislation and guidance. It covers everything from identifying which roles require health surveillance, to selecting appropriate tests, engaging competent health professionals, and managing results and follow-up actions.

The SOP is designed to bridge the gap between high-level legal obligations and practical, day-to-day implementation in Australian workplaces. It helps organisations move beyond ad hoc medical checks to a consistent, risk-based health monitoring regime that is integrated with hazard registers, exposure monitoring, and incident management. By following this procedure, businesses can better detect early signs of occupational disease or overexposure, respond quickly with control improvements, and maintain accurate, confidential health records. This not only supports worker wellbeing and retention, but also reduces the likelihood of enforcement action, workers’ compensation claims, and reputational damage arising from unmanaged health risks.

Key Benefits

• Ensure compliance with WHS Regulations and health monitoring requirements for hazardous chemicals, noise, and other exposures.
• Detect early signs of work-related ill health so that controls can be improved before serious injury or disease occurs.
• Standardise how health surveillance is planned, authorised, delivered, and recorded across all sites and business units.
• Reduce the risk of regulatory penalties, compensation claims, and disputes by maintaining clear, defensible health monitoring records.
• Strengthen worker confidence and engagement by demonstrating a proactive, transparent approach to occupational health protection.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Advisors
• Human Resources Managers
• Occupational Health Nurses
• Occupational Physicians
• Injury Management Coordinators
• HSE Coordinators
• Site Supervisors and Line Managers
• Return-to-Work Coordinators
• Business Owners and PCBU Representatives

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to hazardous chemicals and substances (e.g. isocyanates, lead, asbestos, solvents, pesticides)
• Respirable crystalline silica and other hazardous dusts
• Noise exposure leading to noise-induced hearing loss
• Whole-body and hand–arm vibration exposure
• Thermal stress (heat and cold) affecting worker health
• Biological hazards and infectious agents in certain work environments
• Musculoskeletal disorders arising from repetitive or high-force tasks
• Psychosocial hazards such as work-related stress and fatigue (screening and referral aspects)

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Legal and Other Requirements
• 4.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 5.0 Risk-Based Criteria for Health Surveillance and Monitoring
• 6.0 Identification of Workers Requiring Health Monitoring
• 7.0 Selection of Health Monitoring Methods and Tests
• 8.0 Engagement and Management of Occupational Health Providers
• 9.0 Informed Consent, Privacy and Confidentiality of Health Information
• 10.0 Scheduling, Notification and Attendance Management
• 11.0 Conduct of Health Surveillance (Pre-placement, Baseline, Periodic and Exit Assessments)
• 12.0 Interpretation of Results and Trigger Levels for Action
• 13.0 Communication of Outcomes to Workers and Management
• 14.0 Corrective Actions, Referral and Fitness-for-Work Considerations
• 15.0 Integration with Exposure Monitoring, Risk Registers and Control Reviews
• 16.0 Recordkeeping, Data Security and Retention Periods
• 17.0 Managing Contractors and Labour Hire Workers
• 18.0 Training, Consultation and Worker Engagement
• 19.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of the Health Surveillance Program
• 20.0 References, Related Documents and Forms/Templates

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act (Safe Work Australia)
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations – Part 7 Hazardous Chemicals (including health monitoring requirements)
• Safe Work Australia – Guidance: Health Monitoring for Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Respirable Crystalline Silica from Engineered Stone in the Workplace
• AS/NZS 1269 Occupational noise management (series)
• AS/NZS 1715 Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use