Frequently Asked Questions
Occupational hygiene is the science of identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace hazards that could affect the health and well-being of workers. It focuses on preventing occupational diseases and injuries by assessing exposure to chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks in the workplace.
Key areas of occupational hygiene include:
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Chemical hazards (e.g. dust, gases, vapours, and fumes)
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Physical hazards (e.g. noise, vibration, radiation, and temperature extremes)
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Biological hazards (e.g. bacteria, viruses, and mould)
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Ergonomic hazards (e.g. repetitive strain, poor workstation design)
Occupational hygienists use various methods such as air monitoring, noise assessments, and ergonomic evaluations to measure risks and recommend control measures like ventilation, personal protective equipment (PPE), and process modifications. The ultimate goal is to create a safer and healthier work environment.
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A lot of the time, clients don't contact us specifically asking for an occupational hygiene assessment. Usually, they've either identified a potential risk themselves or through a health and safety review, or they want a better understanding of whether their current controls are working as well as they think they are.
You don’t have to have all the answers before getting in touch with us. We can come to your site and help determine the service that best meets your needs, obligation-free and with no cost involved.
You don't need to know which service you’re looking for when you first contact us. We always start with a chat about what’s happening on your site, any concerns you have, and what you want to achieve, and then we recommend the most appropriate next step from there.
Yes. Many organisations engage us as part of a proactive review rather than in response to a known issue. An assessment can give you the reassurance that your current controls are working as intended (or identify opportunities for improvement) and give you the data to establish a baseline for future monitoring.
Yes. If you already have monitoring data or previous reports, we can review the information and help you understand what it means for your workplace and whether any further action is recommended.
We work across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, infrastructure, ports, agriculture, waste management, laboratories, healthcare, and local government.
Yes. While our offices are based in Auckland and Tauranga, we regularly travel throughout New Zealand to support clients with occupational hygiene and air quality projects.
Yes. While we don't provide legal advice, we can help you understand the risks present in your workplace and provide evidence-based recommendations to support your health and safety reporting.
You'll receive a report that explains what we found, what it means, and any recommendations arising from the assessment. In some cases, that might mean making changes. In others, it might confirm that your controls are already working as intended.
The duration really depends on the type of assessment being carried out, the scope of the project, and what information needs to be collected. We can complete some assessments in a single visit, while others involve monitoring over a longer period. We'll discuss the expected timeframe with you before any work begins.
Yes. We regularly work alongside health and safety managers, consultants, operational teams, and site leaders. Our role is often to provide your team with technical expertise and exposure data to support wider health and safety decision-making.
