Health Surveillance

"The regular and timely monitoring of environmental issues, often mandated by legislation, that may have an effect on an employee's health."

Most employers monitor their employees' health as a matter of course. Those that go beyond the minimum regulatory requirements earn a good reputation for doing so and are often able to attract higher calibre staff. They also find their Sickness Absence rates are reduced and that productivity remains high.

Health Surveillance you may require:

• Forklift Truck Medical Screening - many employees driving Forklift Trucks will require Occupational Health FLT Medical Assessments; this will ensure medical compliance with the Workplace Transport Safety Regulations.

• Lung Function Testing - using Spirometry will be required under the COSHH Regulations by employers who have employees working in an environment where they may be at risk from respiratory diseases; from for example - dust, chemicals, smoke, mists, gases, vapour etc...

• Audiometric Testing - employees working in noisy environments where the Health & Safety Executive Noise Regulations apply under the COSHH Regulations, will require regular hearing tests to monitor their hearing and reduce the risk of suffering Noise Induced Hearing Loss. [NB - a baseline Audiogram should be taken routinely prior to commencing employment. This gives the company an employees hearing ability at the outset of employment rather than part way though or at the end when the employee may well believe the damage was caused during your employment.]

• Hand Arm Vibration Screening - now known as HAVS but still commonly referred to as Vibration White Finger. Employees who work with vibrating tools including power tools, will require regular HAVS screening under the COSHH Regulations. All our OH Practitioners have the updated training in HAVS as required under new legislation which became law in July 2005.

• Night Shift Worker Health Screening - employees working night shifts and come under the Working Time Directives will require to be offered an Occupational Health Assessment. This will determine fitness to work night shifts and highlight adjustments that may be required.

• Pregnant Woman and Breast Feeding Mothers - will require specific Workplace Risk Assessments under the New and Expectant Mothers at Work Regulations.

• Display Screen Workstation Assessments - these are still often referred to as VDU assessments and are regulated under the Display Screen Equipment Regulations (1992, revised 2002). These Workstation Assessments will be required by the majority of employees, including home workers, who use computers, laptops and cctv's for a part of their working day.

• Skin Health Assessments - may be required under the COSHH Regulations for employees working with certain chemicals, dusts and gases.

• Food Handlers Health Assessments - employees working with food, whether it be on a factory food production line or serving food in a small business will require these Health Assessments to ensure health compliance with the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations.

Many businesses are able to derive maximum benefit from a customised Health Surveillance programme, tailored to the specifics of the industry in question. 

Quercus Occupational Health is very happy to work with you to identify your specific Occupational Health requirements.