Health Surveillance

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX

HEALTH SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION

Health Surveillance involves on-going health checks which are designed to detect ill-health effects from specific identified hazards. The Occupational Health Service works together with managers and the Health and Safety Advisory Service to identify employees exposed to specific health hazards which may have an impact on their health and would therefore require Health Surveillance.

The objectives of Health Surveillance are:

To proactively screen to detect early signs of work affecting their health
To protect the health of employees by detecting ill-health effects as early as possible
To assess the effectiveness of measures to control exposure

Health Surveillance is undertaken by questionnaire initially. Staff that are exposed to certain hazards are then given an appointment to have further tests such as hearing tests, lung function, skin inspection or Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) assessment.

Examples of specific hazards for which employers have a legal duty to do carry out Health Surveillance are:

Very noisy workplaces
Staff using vibrating tools
Staff using substances which can cause asthma
Staff using substances which can cause dermatitis

Outcomes

In most cases, no ill-health effects are found. In a small minority of cases further investigations are needed to assess possible ill-health effects.

If a serious ill-health effect is found, the Occupational Health Adviser may recommend some adjustments to work which could include the following:

Improved systems of work
Installing safer equipment
Additional training
Use of additional protective clothing
Possible transfer to other work

You may also be referred to your GP for further investigations.

Confidential medical details will not be made available to your manager or Health and Safety Advisory Service but they are given feedback on the effectiveness of the control measures in place.

References: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999

http://www.hse.gov.uk/health-surveillance/index.htm

Type of health surveillance	What it involves	Triggers	Frequency*	Examples of jobs (not exhaustive)
Hearing	Medical questionnaire	Employees who are regularly exposed to noise at the upper exposure action levels Daily or weekly exposure of 85dB Peak sound pressure of 137dB Those who are at risk for any reason e.g. they already suffer from hearing loss or are particularly sensitive to damage	On employment, then annually for the first two years then 3 yearly	Those who are exposed to noisy tools or processes e.g. metal work employees Wood work employees Groundsmen employees Print room employees
Lung function	Medical questionnaire Height and Weight Spirometry	Those employees who are exposed to substances or processes where occupational asthma is a known problem Those working with respiratory irritants or sensitizers as defined by COSHH	On employment, then 6 weeks after exposure, then 12 weeks after exposure, then annually	Wood work employees Metal work employees Cleaning services employees Painters
Skin checks	Medical questionnaire Visual inspection	*Those who are working with skin irritants or sensitisers as defined by COSHH	Annually	Cleaning services employees
Vibration white finger	Medical questionnaire Visual inspection Physical examination	Employees exposed to vibration above the action value of 2.5m/s2 A (8) Employees who have a diagnosis of HAVS (even when exposed below the action value)	Annual questionnaire and 3 yearly medical	Wood work employees Grounds men employees Metal work employees
Biological agents	Medical questionnaire	*Prior to starting work with agents in Hazard Group 2 or 3 pathogens, Class 2 or 3 genetically modified organisms or human blood or tissue samples that may contain Group 2 or 3 pathogens	Annually	Researchers Technicians
Lead/asbestos	Physical assessment	*Regular or accidental exposure	Initial then as per medical recommendation	Painters/Builders/Electricians
Confined space/working at height	Physical assessment	*Those working in confined spaces or at height	Initial then as per medical recommendation	Builders/Electricians/ Maintenance workers
Night workers	Medical questionnaire Physical assessment	*Those who undertake at least 3 hours of night work on a regular basis	Annual	Security staff

* will be required more frequently if abnormal results are detected

Back to Services Available