Purpose
This article outlines the circumstances in which KINNECT may release an individual’s blood lead level (BLL) results to an Employer, their client, or a Regulator. It also clarifies that KINNECT does not provide pathology reports, but will communicate BLL result values (and relevant identifying details) directly when required.
General Principles
Confidentiality: KINNECT treats all medical information, including blood lead results, as confidential health records.
Consent: Results are generally only released to the Employer or client with the worker’s consent, except where there is a legal or regulatory requirement to disclose.
Regulatory Compliance: Certain workplace health and safety legislation requires that BLL results be reported directly to Regulators or notified to Employers.
What KINNECT Provides
KINNECT will not provide pathology reports to Employers, clients, or Regulators.
Instead, KINNECT will release the following information when required:
Blood lead result values
Worker’s name
Date of birth
Position
This information is provided in a clear, concise format that enables the Employer or Regulator to meet their statutory obligations.
When Blood Lead Level Results May Be Released
Comcare Requests
If Comcare requests blood lead level results as part of their statutory role, KINNECT must provide the result values and identifying details directly.
State-Based Regulator Requests
If a State or Territory Regulator requires notification of elevated BLLs, KINNECT will provide the result values and identifying details directly to the Regulator in line with legislative thresholds and reporting timeframes.
Employer or Client Notification Requirements
Where legislation requires the Employer (or their client, such as a Principal Contractor) to be notified, KINNECT will release the BLL result values along with the worker’s name, date of birth, and position to support compliance.
This enables Employers to meet their duty of care, including risk management and possible removal of workers from lead-risk work.
How KINNECT Handles Notifications
Verification – Confirm whether the result meets the reporting threshold under WHS legislation.
Notification to Regulator – Provide the result values (not pathology reports) plus required identifying details to Comcare or the relevant State-based Regulator, within mandated timeframes.
Employer/Client Communication – Where required, result values and identifying details are shared with the Employer and/or their client.