Health surveillance involves on-going health checks 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.
Examples of specific hazards for which employers have a legal duty to do carry out Health Surveillance are:
Health surveillance is undertaken by questionnaire initially. Staff exposed to certain hazards are then given an appointment to have further tests as appropriate, such as hearing tests, lung function, skin inspection or Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) assessment.
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.