university of essex


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:

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:

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:

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

 

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