Victorian Consolidated Regulations

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS 2017 - REG 198

Reg. 198(1) amended by S.R. No. 71/2018 reg. 9(1).

    (1)     Subject to subregulation (1A), an employer must arrange for biological monitoring of all employees engaged in lead-risk work at the following intervals—

        (a)     for a woman not of reproductive capacity or a man—

              (i)     6 months after the last biological monitoring if the result of the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of less than 1·45 micromoles/litre (30 micrograms/decilitre); or

              (ii)     3 months after the last biological monitoring if the result of the last monitoring shows a blood lead
level of 1·45 micromoles/litre (30 micrograms/decilitre) or more but less than 1·93 micromoles/litre (40 micrograms/decilitre); or

              (iii)     6 weeks after the last biological monitoring if the result of the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of 1·93 micromoles/litre (40 micrograms/decilitre) or more;

        (b)     for a woman of reproductive capacity—

              (i)     3 months after the last biological monitoring if the result of the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of less than 0·48 micromoles/litre (10 micrograms/decilitre); or

              (ii)     6 weeks after the last biological monitoring if the result of the last monitoring shows a blood lead
level of 0·48 micromoles/litre (10 micrograms/decilitre) or more.

Notes

1     Act compliance—section 22(1) (see regulation 7).

2     See regulation 181.

Reg. 198(1A) inserted by S.R. No. 71/2018 reg. 9(2).

    (1A)     On and from the date that is the 2-year anniversary of the commencement of the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Regulations 2018, an employer must arrange for biological monitoring of all employees engaged in lead-risk work at the following intervals—

        (a)     for a woman not of reproductive capacity or a man—

              (i)     6 months after the last biological monitoring if the result of the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of less than 0·48 micromoles/
litre (10 micrograms/decilitre); or

              (ii)     3 months after the last biological monitoring if the result of the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of 0·48 micromoles/litre (10 micrograms/decilitre) or more but less than 0·97 micromoles/litre (20 micrograms/decilitre); or

              (iii)     6 weeks after the last biological monitoring if the result of the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of 0·97 micromoles/litre (20 micrograms/decilitre) or more;

        (b)     for a woman of reproductive capacity—

              (i)     3 months after the last biological monitoring if the result of the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of less than 0·24 micromoles/
litre (5 micrograms/decilitre); or

              (ii)     6 weeks after the last biological monitoring if the result of the last monitoring shows a blood lead level of 0·24 micromoles/litre (5 micrograms/decilitre) or more but less than 0·48 micromoles/
litre (10 micrograms/decilitre).

Notes

1     Act compliance—section 22(1) (see  regulation 7).

2     See regulation 181.

    (2)     An employer must increase the frequency of biological monitoring if the employee is carrying out an activity that is reasonably likely to significantly change the nature or increase the duration or frequency of the employee's lead exposure.

Note

Act compliance—section 22(1) (see regulation 7).

    (3)     The Authority may determine a different frequency for biological monitoring for a workplace or for a class of employees performing lead-risk work, having regard to—

        (a)     the nature of the work and likely duration and frequency of exposure; and

        (b)     the likelihood that the blood lead level of employees will significantly increase.

Reg. 198(4) amended by S.R. No. 71/2018 reg. 9(3).

    (4)     If the Authority makes a determination under subregulation (3), and the determination applies to an employer's workplace or employees, the employer must provide the biological monitoring required by subregulation (1) or (1A) in relation to the workplace or employees at the frequency specified in the determination.

Note

Act compliance—section 22(1) (see regulation 7).

    (5)     In this regulation the duties of an employer in relation to biological monitoring extend to an independent contractor.

Note

Act compliance—section 23 (see regulation 7).