WorkSafe New Zealand Scoping Report: Exploring the development of a New Zealand occupational exposure measurement database

Abstract

The lack of information on the distribution and level of workplace exposures in New Zealand limits the ability to develop, target, and evaluate interventions to reduce harmful exposures. WorkSafe contracted the Research Centre for Hauora and Health (a recent merger between the Centre for Public Health Research and the Research Centre for Māori Health and Development) at Massey University to explore the development of a New Zealand occupational exposure measurement (OEM) database in collaboration with WorkSafe and the New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society (NZOHS). An OEM database is a centralised repository of objectively collected workplace exposure measurements. This scoping report includes:

• A description of the advantages and disadvantages of OEM databases; • An overview of international OEM databases, including a literature review and a survey of database managers/contacts to explore their experiences with key international databases; • The advantages and disadvantages of an OEM database for New Zealand in the context of current legislation and key players who collect exposure monitoring data; • Stakeholder consultation, through discussion at a NZOHS members meeting and an online survey of NZOHS members, to explore the willingness of occupational hygiene providers and industry in New Zealand to contribute to an OEM database; • An overview of issues that need to be considered prior to developing an OEM database such as database host, sustainability, intellectual property, privacy, user access, and consent; • Recommendations for whether a New Zealand OEM database should be established as well as specific recommendations for potential implementation; • An outline of options and possible next steps required to pilot and establish a database.