Biological testing of workers - with carboxyhaemoglobin level in a blood test - would provide additional information which could be helpful. If levels are in the normal range that would be reassuring, although if your environmental monitoring has suggested that levels are high then this requires further risk management regardless, noting also that high levels can cause acute incapacity or death.

Smokers have higher levels of carboxyhaemoglobin so this needs to be taken into account when interpreting results. Some individuals will also be more vulnerable to this hazard due to underlying health conditions.

Samples would best be taken following the exposures you are concerned about. e.g. end of shift. It needs to also be taken into account that this will be a snapshot of exposure and conditions may change this from day to day.

Your local occupational health nurse team should be able to assist you with this, with help from an occupational physician if required.

I recommend that you seek advice from an occupational health physician. I would expect them to consider workplace exposures (current and past), other non-work respiratory exposures, medical history and then to provide you with opinion on causation of the lung condition and recommendations for managing the worker.

Have a look here for someone local
https://anzsom.org.nz/find-a-consultant/

Mike (occupational physician)

I have seen companies overseas do this as a matter of course and in that case, from a medical point of view, the purpose and benefit is questionable, especially if appropriate monitoring has already been performed. It may be different from a legal perspective.

Could be medically justified if role has involved an overseas posting to a tropical area where asymptomatic infections could be screened for although this is controversial.

Slightly different to your question, but an exit medical could be useful in specific cases where it is already known that significant illness, injury or exposure has occurred in the role. Purpose being to document current state of health, ensure that appropriate medical management/ education is in place.

Hi everyone
I'm a self employed Occupational Physician. When I was in the UK I worked with H&S professionals on the health components of their risk management systems, and ended up joining IOSH. I'd like to keep in touch with what's happening in the H&S profession here and I joined the forum about a week before it ended, so I'm glad to see it back.