Hygiene & Lab Services

Personal exposure monitoring

Atmospheric monitoring

Personal exposure monitoring was initially established in the NSW coal mining industry in response to escalating occupational health concerns.

Atmospheric contaminants have the potential to cause a host of health related problems including acute or chronic health effects from exposures or contact to toxic materials, lung diseases relating to airborne dust exposures, reduced lung function, allergies and irritation.

Mine Safety Occupational Hygiene (MSOH) services include:
walk-through surveys, through to detailed exposure assessments, depending on the client’s requirements. Monitoring can be conducted for respirable and inhalable dusts, gases, vapours including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fumes and diesel particulate matter.

Noise and vibration monitoring

Although preventable, noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the NSW coal mining industry’s major challenges. Not only is it a cost to industry, but NIHL can also have a serious impact on quality of life.

The effects of vibration can often be deceptive and far-reaching, ranging from general fatigue, aches and pains, loss of strength and feeling, to debilitating pain and incapacity.

MSOH offer a range of noise and vibration monitoring services, including:

  • walk-through and comprehensive noise surveys
  • noise exposure assessments in accordance with Australian standards
  • noise dosimetry
  • whole body vibration exposure assessment
  • hand/arm (HAV) vibration exposure assessment.

Lighting surveys

Lighting issues have health and safety impacts ranging from simply being unable to see hazards, to health impacts such as eyestrain, headaches and fatigue.

Lighting is more complex than just adding more power, and care should be exercised in controlling glare and determining sources of light. In addition, contrast and reflectance should also be considered. MSOH can undertake a complete workplace survey to identify any lighting issues and will outline a plan for corrective action to address any problems in accordance with AS/NZS 1680.