- It concentrates on work processes and analyses any possible issues that may occur when an employee completes this process.
- It looks at any adverse effects this process could have and tries to implement guidelines that would avoid any problems to the health of the employee.
- It is vital in some jobs especially when employees are working with certain machinery or working with chemicals and substances.
- A 'responsible person', such as a manager, looking for a clear reaction e.g. checking for skin conditions
- A 'qualified person' asking
employees about symptoms, or inspecting or examining individuals for ill-health e.g. OH Nurse doing lung function tests
- Medical surveillance by a doctor which can include clinical examination
- Biological and biological effect monitoring to measure effects of exposure e.g. blood tests
- Keeping individual health records for all types
- Self-checks by employees to look for and report any signs of work-related ill health. BUT to comply with regulations these have to be part of a program in which health records are kept and where employees are:
- Trained about signs of illness or disease, and how and when to look for them
- Told how and when to report signs and to who – a responsible or qualified person
- Also subject to periodic checks by a responsible or qualified person
- Baseline health assessment on commencing a new post or placement
- Detecting harmful health effects at an early stage
- Check that control measures are working
- Provide data by health records to detect and evaluate health risks
- Provide an opportunity to train and instruct employees
- Give employees a chance to raise concerns about the effect of work on health
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Risk assessments for work activity involving hazards; include consideration of the need for health surveillance
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Where health surveillance of individual employees is deemed to be necessary, it takes place at the required frequency.
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The results of health surveillance are acted upon to meet statutory and management requirements
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The records of results of health surveillance are maintained to meet statutory requirements and are available to HSE Inspectors requesting them
Record and act on the results in an appropriate manner.
Certain groups may need special protection e.g. pregnant workers, young workers.
Monitor and evaluate the programme.
Health records
Health surveillance programs should include keeping a health record for each individual to provide:
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A historical record of jobs involving exposure to workplace hazards
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A historical record of the outcome
Information for HSE or local authority inspectors
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Surname
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Forename
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Sex
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Date of birth
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Permanent addres
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NI number
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Date started present job
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Historical record of jobs involving exposure to the hazard for which health surveillance required during this employment
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Conclusions, decisions, fitness for work (but not clinical information)
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Date carried out
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Name of person carrying out the health surveillance
In certain circumstances, medical surveillance is specified, which states that the employee requires surveillance carried out by a registered medical practitioner, who is "appointed" by the Health & Safety Executive for this purpose.
Where these requirements exist, the employer must ensure that a doctor is appointed and that he has the required access to the site, both to carry out the surveillance, and be aware of the work practices.