About

 

At Cole Health, we are dedicated to safeguarding the health of workers across Australia's highest-risk industries. Founded by engineer and occupational hygienist Kate Cole OAM, our consultancy specialises in identifying and mitigating workplace health hazards—particularly airborne contaminants like respirable crystalline silica.

Kate brings over two decades of experience working on some of Australia’s most significant infrastructure and construction projects, including tunnelling, demolition, and contaminated site remediation. She is a Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH), a former President of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH), and a Churchill Fellow, recognised for her work in advancing best practice for managing airborne hazards in complex environments.

In 2022, Kate was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) and placed on the COVID-19 Honour Roll for her services to workplace health and safety. She has provided expert support to government and industry through a number of key advisory roles, including:

  • NSW Dust Diseases Board

  • Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Council

  • NSW Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce

  • Co-Chair of the National Silicosis Prevention Strategy Expert Steering Committee

  • SafeWork NSW Advisory Committee member for the NSW Code of Practice: Tunnels Under Construction

  • Professional Advisory Board member, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UTS

Kate also serves as an independent expert witness in legal and regulatory proceedings, delivering impartial, technically sound reports grounded in current scientific evidence and aligned with relevant standards. She is a sought-after public speaker, known for her ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable messages—whether speaking at a toolbox talk, executive briefing, industry conference, or national media interview.

At Cole Health, we combine deep technical expertise with a practical, people-first approach. We’re here to make the invisible risks visible, and to help organisations take smart, evidence-based steps to protect their people.