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Work Health & Occupational Exposure Testing
NATA accredited laboratory analysis for workplace air quality, dust, vapours, metals, biological contaminants and inorganic gases — supporting compliance with Safe Work Australia exposure standards across all major industries.
NATA
Accredited
WES → WEL
Transitioning Dec 2026
Sampling media
Supply available
Regulatory Update — Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) Transition
Australia is transitioning from the Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) list to the new Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) list. PCBUs must comply with the WES list until 1 December 2026, after which the WEL list applies. Some limits have changed significantly — contact us to discuss the impact on your monitoring program.
Overview
Occupational Exposure Monitoring
Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) have a legal obligation under the Work Health and Safety Act to manage workplace exposure to hazardous substances. This requires understanding what airborne contaminants workers are exposed to, at what concentrations, and whether those concentrations exceed the relevant exposure standard.
Envirolab provides NATA accredited laboratory analysis across the full range of occupational hygiene samples — from personal air monitoring filters and sorbent tubes through to biological samples and microbiological swabs. We also supply sampling media to occupational hygienists and industrial hygiene consultants.
- Personal and area monitoring sample analysis
- Biological Monitoring including Urine Analysis for Exposure Contaminants
- Results at levels suitable for comparison to Safe Work Australia WES/WEL limits or other Guidelines where applicable
- Advice on appropriate analytical methods and sampling procedures per documented methodology
- Sampling media supply - tubes, filters, cassettes, badges, canisters
Respirable Dust
Dust Monitoring - Inhalable, Respirable & Specialist
Airborne dust is one of the most common occupational health hazards, particularly in mining, construction, quarrying, and tunnelling. Dust particle size determines where in the respiratory system particles deposit - inhalable dust includes all particles that enter the nose and mouth, while respirable dust refers to the finer fraction that penetrates deep into the lung alveoli, where it can cause permanent damage.
Note: The WEL transition (December 2026) includes revised limits for several dust fractions. Contact us to confirm which limits apply to your monitoring program post-transition.
- Inhalable dust - total airborne particulate that can enter the upper airways
- Respirable dust - fine fraction reaching the gas exchange region of the lung
- Respirable quartz (crystalline silica) - see below
- Mine roadway dust
- High volume dust - area/ambient monitoring
- Dust deposition - settled dust measurement
- Combustible dusts - explosion risk assessment
Crystalline Silica
Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) - Quartz & Cristobalite
Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is one of the most significant occupational health hazards in Australia. Prolonged inhalation of respirable silica dust causes silicosis — a progressive, incurable, and potentially fatal lung disease. High-risk activities include tunnelling, quarrying, stone benchtop fabrication, sandblasting, and construction drilling.
Envirolab is NATA accredited for the analysis of respirable crystalline silica in the two most common forms found in workplace environments:
- Quartz - the most abundant form of crystalline silica, found in rock, sand, soil and concrete
- Cristobalite - found in volcanic rock and high-temperature industrial processes
- Analysis by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) - NATA accredited method
- Results reported against Safe Work Australia WES (0.05 mg/m³ TWA) and new WEL limits
Engineered stone: Silicosis in engineered stone (benchtop) workers is a significant occupational health crisis in Australia. Engineered stone products can contain up to 93% crystalline silica — far higher than natural stone. Regular RCS monitoring is mandatory in this sector.
Metals & Metalloids
Metals & Metalloids in Workplace Air
Occupational exposure to airborne metals and metalloids occurs in a wide range of industries — copper and lead smelting, wood treatment, metal fabrication, welding, waste incineration, and fossil fuel combustion. Many metals are acutely toxic or carcinogenic at elevated concentrations, making regular monitoring an essential part of workplace health management.
Arsenic in urine: Biological monitoring for arsenic via urine is available where inorganic arsenic exposure is suspected — particularly relevant for smelting and wood treatment workers. Contact us to discuss biological monitoring programs.
- Personal monitoring - filter-based sampling worn by workers during a shift
- High volume filters - area monitoring for ambient metal concentrations
- Arsenic - elevated exposure risk in copper/lead smelting, wood treatment, pesticide/herbicide manufacture and application
- Lead - smelting, battery manufacturing, demolition of lead-painted structures
- Welding fumes - mixed metal oxide aerosols including chromium(VI), manganese, nickel
- Mercury - industrial processes, dental, laboratory environments
- Full metal suite available via ICP-OES and ICP-MS
Vapours & VOCs
Solvent Vapours & Volatile Organic Compounds
Airborne solvent vapours arise from industrial processes, cleaning operations, surface coatings, printing, and chemical manufacturing. Employers are legally required to assess and control worker exposure to hazardous vapours — regular monitoring is essential where chemical use is ongoing.
- VOCs in sorbent tubes or passive diffusion badges
- Carbon disulphide on activated carbon tubes
- Formaldehyde in air - passive monitor or active sampling
- VOCs in ambient air - Summa Canisters (TO-15), thermal desorption tubes (TO-17)
- VOCs in landfill gas and stack emissions (Method 18)
Inorganic Gases & Fumes
Inorganic Gases, Fumes & Diesel Particulate
Toxic inorganic gases and fumes can arise from welding, chemical processes, mining operations, and combustion engines. Underground mining environments are particularly high-risk for diesel particulate matter (DPM) accumulation, where ventilation constraints limit dilution of exhaust emissions.
Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM): Analysis by elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC) and total carbon (TC) fractions. Particularly relevant for underground mining, tunnelling, and confined space operations where diesel engine exhaust accumulates.
- Acid mists (sulphuric, hydrochloric)
- Ammonia
- Arsine in air
- Cyanide (hydrogen cyanide)
- Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S)
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
- Mercury (elemental and inorganic)
- Welding fumes (total and speciated)
- Diesel Particulate Matter — elemental, organic and total carbon
- Ozone precursors
Asbestos Air Monitoring
Asbestos Air Monitoring
Asbestos air monitoring is required during removal works, following disturbance of asbestos-containing materials, and for clearance testing before a controlled area is re-occupied. It is also used for ongoing occupational exposure monitoring in buildings where ACMs are present but undisturbed.
- Fibre counting in airborne samples - Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM)
- Fibre counting in water samples
- Asbestos identification in building materials
- Asbestos in soil
- Results reported against WES/WEL of 0.1 fibres/mL (8-hour TWA)
Bacteria & Fungi
Airborne Bacteria, Fungi & Micro-organisms
Biological contamination of indoor air by bacteria and fungi can cause adverse health effects including allergic reactions, respiratory illness, and in severe cases, hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Healthcare facilities, laboratories, food processing, and buildings with water damage or poorly maintained HVAC systems are at highest risk.
Moisture-related issues — water leakage, high humidity, and contaminated cooling coils and humidifiers — create conditions favourable for microbial growth and dispersal through ventilation systems.
- Airborne bacteria and fungi - air sampling and culture-based analysis
- Surface bacteria and fungi - swab or contact plate sampling
- Hospitals, ICUs, surgical suites, pharmacies and patient care facilities
- HVAC system contamination assessment
- Post-remediation clearance verification
Sampling Media Supply
Sampling Media & Equipment Supply
Envirolab supplies a comprehensive range of sampling media and equipment to occupational hygienists and industrial hygiene consultants. Correct sampling media selection is critical - using the wrong tube or filter type for a specific analyte will compromise results regardless of analytical quality.
Not sure what you need? Contact our team and we'll advise on the appropriate sampling media and analytical method for your specific monitoring scenario, in accordance with AS and Safe Work Australia guidelines.
Sorbent tubes
Charcoal tubes, silica gel tubes and other media for vapour and gas sampling.
High volume filters
Pre-inspected for pin holes. Quartz filters for Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM).
Respirable cassettes
IOM inhalable dust sampling heads and standard respirable dust cassettes.
Passive badges
3M vapour badges for solvent monitoring. Formaldehyde passive monitors.
Mercury capsules
Passive inorganic mercury reusable capsule holders and sorbent capsules.
Dust deposition
Funnels, stoppers and Winchesters for settled dust deposition sampling.
Ready to get started?
Talk to our team about your workplace monitoring requirements — we can advise on sampling methods, supply sampling media, and turn results around fast.