AusJEM - Australian Job Exposure Matrix

Funded by: Monash University Strategic Grants Scheme

It is difficult to assess the past chemical exposure of most workers for the purposes of health studies or for compensation and regulatory purposes. There is currently no systematic database of past workplace chemical exposure in Australia that the public, industry, health researchers and government can access. However recent issues that have arisen in the military, construction industry and compensation areas has shown a need for a uniquely Australian systematic database of past workplace exposures. This study will draw together workplace chemical (and later physical) exposure data from many sources and provide it in a database form that will be easy to access on the internet, ‘AusJEM’.

This resource will be useful for health research (cancer and respiratory disease studies) as well as for compensation purposes. AusJEM will be based upon the Australian Standardised Coding of Occupations (ASCO) job coding system and it will involve statistical modelling and strict data quality criteria.

Upon completion of a draft version of AusJEM, the database will then be trialled in a recently completed Western Australian Study investigating the causes of Prostate cancer. Modifications will be made to AusJEM based on the findings of the comparison study. The final version of AusJEM will initially provide information regarding at least 20 chemical exposures and be available from a website.