It is preferable to complete an occupational audiometric test before conducting a spirometry test as during the spirometry test a build-up of pressure in the ear canal can occur which may negatively influence the results of any subsequent hearing test.
Furthermore, if a patient has long hair or is wearing glasses, you must ensure they remove their glasses and have pushed any hair back and away from the headphones and ears to avoid any potential interference.
Purpose: In the occupational health setting, spirometry plays a critical role in the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of workplace-related lung disease
Who can complete: Registered Nurse or Enrolled Nurse (or doctor) or trained allied health professional (Occupational Therapist, Exercise Physiologist, Physiotherapist)
Time to complete: 15 minutes
IMPORTANT: The clinician completing the spirometry MUST run through a spirometry contraindications checklist PRIOR to completing the spirometry to ensure it is safe to proceed. The checklist is completed on the Carelever form or manually on paperwork as you see below. If the applicant has any contraindications on the day the applicant will be sent to a general practitioner to obtain a medical clearance before we can complete the spirometry test. This would involve the worker being rebooked for the spirometry test once clearance has been obtained.
Equipment: The standards of delivery of Spirometry for Coal Mine Workers or the Resource Sector are very strict to ensure the quality of the testing is maintained at a very high level. This involves:
The spirometer must meet ATS/ERS requirements
Single use spirettes / mouthpieces / nose clips
Access to local atmospheric gauge including temperature and humidity on the day of testing
Daily calibration log of the spirometer (or as per the manufacturers guidelines) using a 3 litre calibration syringe certified as being accurate to ATS/ERS specifications annually
Stadiometer and scales for determining height and weight. These must be verified each year as being accurate
Monthly biological control monitoring log to be maintained once the calculated normal ranges are recorded Cleaning log as per the manufacturer’s recommendation
Equipment history log including any changes to hardware / software and reference equations
Preventative maintenance log
Spirometer settings MUST be set to the following:
Interpretation: GOLD(2008) / Hardie
Predicted: Quanjer (GLI) 2012
It is a KINNECT and legislative requirement that spirometry is completed to A or B quality standards.