Event Details

Breaking Down Barriers – Scott McDonald, Occupational Hygiene Advisor, West Gate Tunnel Project

The West Gate Tunnel Project aimed to strengthen the role of occupational hygiene in major infrastructure projects. As one of Victoria’s largest infrastructure builds, it developed a structured occupational hygiene management system, working closely with external consultants and regulators to set a new industry benchmark.

Scott McDonald and Richard Cain were responsible for implementing the occupational hygiene management plan—covering exposure monitoring, data collation, regulator liaison, stakeholder engagement, and control strategies. 

While the management system provided a structured approach to managing health risks, its success relied heavily on workforce engagement and practical implementation by project leadership.

To bridge the gap between policy and practice, Scott focused on breaking down barriers with both management and the workforce by building relationships, tailoring communication strategies, and developing worker understanding of occupational hygiene principles. 

Please join us at the March Chapter Meeting to explore how the West Gate Tunnel Project integrated occupational hygiene into large-scale infrastructure and what lessons can be applied to future projects.

 Scott McDonald

Scott McDonald is an Occupational Hygiene Advisor with experience in managing workplace health risks on major infrastructure projects in Victoria. At the West Gate Tunnel Project, he has assisted in the development of occupational hygiene strategies to promote worker health and safety, focusing on respirable crystalline silica, diesel particulate matter, asbestos remediation and noise exposure. His work includes implementing occupational hygiene management systems, workforce training, and stakeholder engagement to ensure effective risk control.

Previously, Scott was a HSE Consultant at Prensa where he assisted various occupational hygiene and hazardous materials projects, including the NWPA Tram Depot Redevelopment, HMAS Cerberus, and Hazelwood Power Station demolition.

He is currently completing a Master’s in Occupational Hygiene at the University of Wollongong, strengthening his expertise in exposure assessment and health risk management.

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