Statutory Health Surveillance

In a nutshell health surveillance is about systematically watching out for early signs of ill health in employees who may potentially be exposed to health risks by the work they do. It is often a legal requirement .We know that people can be made very ill indeed by their jobs as the harrowing consequences arising out of uncontrolled asbestos exposure demonstrate.

Legally required Health Screening can include:

• Simple methods, such as looking for skin damage on hands from using certain chemicals.
• Technical checks on employees, such as hearing tests, lung function checks, hand arm vibration checks.
• D.S.E Assessments
• More detailed medical examinations such as Radiation Medicals.

Don’t confuse this type of health surveillance with health promotion or general health checks – for example you may offer “lifestyle medicals” but these are no substitute for focused, strategic tests for occupational health risks which you are required to undertake by law.

The starting point is via Risk Assessment and very importantly via COSHH hazard data sheets, through this, the people who are at risk should have been identified and measures should have been taken to control the risk. Where risks remain, further steps will need to be taken, one of which is to consider health surveillance. However, health surveillance is not a substitute for controlling health risks at work.

The good news is that If you are carrying out appropriate health surveillance including baseline health surveillance at the commencement of employment it significantly reduces your risk of litigation or improvement notices. It is always worth checking if your insurance premiums will be reduced as a result of this and in fact some insurers are now insisting on it.

From a health and safety perspective it gives a valuable insight into how your control measures are working and enables you to take swift action to remedy potential problems.

It also provides a valuable opportunity for feedback and a chance to reinforce your health and safety messages to your workforce.

If you are seeking to win contracts most of the top companies and government bodies will require detailed information about your health and safety. Statutory health surveillance forms a part of this. You may well find that you can look for more prestige clients and win more business.

Health surveillance can make employees feel that the company cares about their health and can lead to fewer absentees, better productivity and improved staff morale, all of which affect the bottom line profit. If undertaken at the pre-employment stage it can ensure that no-one is placed at risk of occupational illness, so future problems are prevented.

Occupational Health Consultancy Ltd can carry out most health surveillance on your site and ensure that you are provided with all the paperwork to ensure you are legally compliant.

health surveillance case study

An SME in Southampton were visited by their local HSE inspector who was generally impressed with their Health and Safety but advised them that they needed to consider health surveillance as a control measure.

They called us in and we visited them, sorted out their requirements and began a rolling programme of health surveillance which included the three tiered approach to HAVS. The client was given the choice of a nurse attending their site or their employees visiting our Southampton clinic. They also wanted to spread their cash flow and to be kept fully in the loop of each step.

When the HSE inspector returned he was very pleased and the client is happy that they are legally compliant. In addition we carry our pre-employment screens for them and baseline health surveillance so that the client and prospective employee can be sure that their job is not causing them any harm.

The client has said: "I know I can ring the team at OHC for advice and support and that they understand how hard it can be for small businesses to comply with all the legislation. They also understand that we need to keep costs down as far as possible. Having the flexibility of being able to visit their clinic or them coming to us has been very useful"