The Investigation and Surveillance of Poisonings and Hazardous Substances Injuries

The guidelines provide guidance to public health staff who investigate complaints of adverse health impacts from any poisonings and chemical or hazardous substances injuries (chemical exposure incidents) in non-occupational settings. These guidelines should also be used whenever a notification of chemical exposure/injury for both occupational and non-occupational environments is notified to the public health unit.

Use of these guidelines will assist with determining: the health risk of a chemical exposure incident and whether further investigation is required; appropriate advice on managing the consequences of the incident, including risk communication; improvements in public education and the provision of information to support programmes and interventions to prevent injury and/or unintentional exposure to hazardous substances.

These guidelines are intended to provie guidance on poisoning and hazadous substances injuries that are legally required under the Health Act and Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.