Grain and feed dust does not smell like a hazard. There is no sharp solvent warning, no visible fume - just dust that people work in every day for years. It is nonetheless a recognised respiratory hazard, associated with occupational asthma, chronic bronchitis and organic dust toxic syndrome, and it carries endotoxin from bacteria living on the grain.
Depending on the operation your people may also be breathing mould spores and bioaerosols in storage and handling, ammonia and dust in livestock and poultry barns, and diesel particulate around loaders and trucks.
There is no section of the BC OHS Regulation that requires spirometry for grain dust or anything else, and we would rather say that plainly than sell you a rule that does not exist. What testing gives you is a baseline recording what a worker's lungs were like before they started on the mill floor, and a series that shows whether anyone is declining faster than ageing alone explains.
We have done this work. In November 2025 we ran on-site spirometry for 25 workers at a Fraser Valley feed mill, testing across an 11am to 6pm window so the day crew and the afternoon shift were both covered in a single visit.
We also provide hearing testing, respirator fit testing and first aid training for agriculture and food processing employers.
Mills and plants do not stop for a testing day. We work around the changeover.
We complete 40-70 tests per day and can run alongside hearing testing on the same visit.
Baseline and periodic lung function testing for mill floor, grain handling, barn and processing staff.
Every test reviewed by a licensed physician, so a flagged result arrives with clinical interpretation rather than a raw number.
We test through shift change so day and afternoon crews get the same coverage in one visit.
We are already in Fraser Valley mills and processing plants doing hearing conservation work, and we have run spirometry in one. Same crew list, same day, same report.
A feed mill is loud enough that hearing testing is already a WorkSafeBC obligation under OHSR 7.8, and we are coming to you for it regardless. Running spirometry on the same visit means one crew list, one interruption and one invoice instead of two of each.
Spirometry is not mandated in BC and we will not tell you it is. What we will do is help you decide whether your dust levels justify it, and set an interval that matches your risk rather than a number we invented.
Results live in your client portal alongside your hearing testing records, so one login shows who is current and who is due.
Clear Health Group delivers mobile occupational health and RN-led home services across British Columbia - including the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, and the BC Interior. Our team travels directly to worksites and homes, eliminating the need for clinic visits.
Currently serving major BC municipalities including:
Clear Health Group supports employers with reliable, structured mobile health services designed to simplify compliance and reduce operational disruption. Families trust our RN-led team for professional in-home care delivered with consistency and clinical oversight.
We recently used Clear Health Group for our company-wide annual hearing testing and respirator fit testing across two locations and two days. … Seamless and professional.
They showed up to our jobsite in Duncan, on time and were well prepared for our team to have their fit tests done on site.
Wonderful experience! Noah was lovely to coordinate with and the testing experience was seamless for our team! Would happily book again for our next test. Cheers!
We got our mask fitting tests done by Amy. Both the service and attitude were excellent! Will definitely call them again for other services!
Great experience with Noah and Catherine. Showing up on time, very professional and on track for the schedule.
Definitely good at their job. Noah and Amy were at our construction job site and did a good job for testing. Helped all our crew on site.
Happy to have booked with Clear Work. Noah & Nina were fast, easy to work with, and readily available. 5/5!
ClearHealth is fantastic. Very accommodating and Noah is an absolute pleasure. Very friendly, quick services, very efficient! Highly recommend.
Friendly, professional and accommodating team! Pleasure to work with.
A great on-site hearing test experience. Katherine was kind, professional, and made the process quick and comfortable.
Overall it was a wonderful experience for the test. Very professional and good consultation regarding hearing loss prevention.
Ammy took my hearing test and it was an awesome experience. She was very professional, kind, and explained everything clearly. The test was done smoothly and I felt comfortable the entire time. I truly appreciate her patience and excellent service. Highly recommended!
Common questions about spirometry in BC feed mills, grain handling and food processing.
Grain and feed dust is a recognised respiratory hazard. It is associated with occupational asthma, chronic bronchitis and organic dust toxic syndrome, and it carries endotoxin from bacteria on the grain. Unlike a chemical exposure with a sharp smell, it is easy to work in every day without registering it as a hazard.
No. There is no section of the BC OHS Regulation that requires spirometry, for grain dust or any other exposure. Where you have an exposure control plan, OHSR 5.54(2)(f) lists health monitoring as an element when required. Otherwise it is voluntary - employers run it for early detection and to hold a baseline.
Yes. Feed mills and processing plants rarely have everyone present at once. We have run mill testing on an 11am to 6pm window specifically to catch both the day crew and the afternoon shift in a single visit, and we will build the day around whatever your changeover looks like.
Ten to fifteen minutes per person, and we complete 40-70 tests in a day depending on layout. Employees should avoid a heavy meal, smoking and hard exercise beforehand; we send the instructions ahead of time.
Yes, and most operations do it that way. Feed mills and processing plants are noisy enough that hearing testing is already a WorkSafeBC obligation, so we are coming to you regardless. Adding spirometry to the same visit means one crew list and one interruption.
Baseline and periodic lung function testing for crews working grain dust, organic dust and endotoxin. Physician-reviewed, shift-aware, and cheapest alongside your hearing tests.
