Occupational Health

The University of Melbourne provides occupational health screening and monitoring services to University staff exposed to particular risks during their employment. Where a supervisor identifies risks requiring health monitoring, Health and Safety can help with organising initial screening and ongoing monitoring, as required.

All medical records are kept strictly confidential, in line with the University Privacy Policy (MPF1104).

Attendance to a health screening or monitoring service may appear in reports provided to your supervisor, Health and Safety Services and/or your local Health and Safety Business Partner to ensure exposure to workplace risks are being monitored effectively.

HHAQ - Health and Hazard Assessment Questionnaire
Supervisor/Manager responsibilities
Supervisors and managers must identify the occupational health risks associated with the activities undertaken by their staff.
Monitoring requirements and protocols can be used to assist in identifying occupational health risks:
- Occupational health surveillance requirements matrix
  This matrix indicates the required frequency of health monitoring, in association with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Occupational health monitoring protocols
  These protocols map job risks against required management processes and legal and regulatory requirements.
If the supervisor or manager determines a new starter's role requires occupational health monitoring (ie. vaccinations and/or health monitoring) they should complete a Health and hazard assessment questionnaire (HHAQ) before commencing work.
The Health & Safety - Complete a health and hazard assessment questionnaire (HHAQ) provides detailed information on identifying when a HHAQ is required and the steps for completing the HHAQ.
Once completed, the supervisor forwards the HHAQ to the staff member. The supervisor has a responsibility to ensure that the staff member sends the HHAQ onto Health and Safety Assist once completed.
If a current staff member's role has a substantial change then a new HHAQ may be required.
For staff members who require ongoing monitoring or vaccinations, supervisors and managers should requests these services via their local Health and Safety Business Partner.
Staff responsibilities
Staff should discuss potential risks associated with their job tasks with their manager or supervisor.
All new staff, or staff whose job risks have altered, are required to complete a health and hazard assessment questionnaire (HHAQ) before starting work. Once completed, submit your HHAQ via email to Health and Safety Assist.
Health screening and monitoring
The Health surveillance requirements matrix offers guidance to determine if you require health monitoring.
The areas of health monitoring required by legislation include:
- Audiometric (hearing) - testing for noise exposures.
  Email Health and Safety Assist to discuss your Audiometry requirements.
- Spirometry (lung function) - testing for exposures to lung irritants including animal dander (fur, hair and skin), chemicals, dusts, fumes and other allergenic and sensitising substances.
  Email Health and Safety Assist to discuss your Spirometry requirements.
- Pathology - screening for post vaccination antibodies, microbial exposures (involving biological and zoonotic diseases including: Q fever, rabies (Australian bat lyssavirus), chlamydia, tuberculosis (TB), HIV, hepatitis B and C and other potentially hazardous microbial exposures). Scheduled hazardous chemical monitoring and drug screening as required for staff entering other research sites.
  Email Health and Safety Assist to discuss your pathology requirements.
Some of these services may be outsourced to external providers.