Health surveillance

Health surveillance

WE HAV E YOU COV E R ED

HEALTH SURVE I LLANCE

HE A LTH SURV E I L L ANCE HEALTH SURVEILLANCE IS A SYSTEM OF ONGOING HEALTH CHECKS THAT RISKS: If health isn’t controlled at work, employees can suffer health problems in later life such as lung cancer, deafness, dermatitis or respiratory problems. EMPLOYER DUTIES:

CAN IDENTIFY AN EARLY INDICATION OF ILL HEALTH AND HELPS IDENTIFY ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION

Employers have a legal duty to implement a health surveillance programme if their employees are exposed to certain health risks. The programme should ensure that procedures are in place to detect early signs of work-related ill health, with the results swiftly acted upon. EMPLOYEE DUTIES: Employees should understand that health surveillance has been identified for certain situations and is a statutory requirement; they must attend their appointment. They should also understand what action their employer may take if they refuse to attend or regularly miss appointments.

NEEDED. IT MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW IF EMPLOYEES ARE EXPOSED TO NOISE, VIBRATION, SOLVENTS, FUMES, DUSTS, BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH, OR WORK IN COMPRESSED AIR.

1

T : 0 8 4 5 0 5 0 4 0 6 0 W : WWW. E L A S . U K . C OM

2

T : 0 8 4 5 0 5 0 4 0 6 0 W : WWW. E L A S . U K . C OM

HEARING TESTS: Audiometric testing is mandatory for all UK employees exposed to noise levels of 85dBA or above on a daily basis. After an initial baseline assessment, an audiometric test will be undertaken annually for the first two years, then at three yearly intervals. The test result, a pure tone audiogram, is a highly repeatable exact reading of the hearing thresholds by frequency. A questionnaire is also carried out as part of the assessment. LUNG FUNCTION TESTS: Spirometry assessments are carried out when employees are exposed to fumes, dust or obnoxious smells in the workplace. These tests are carried out annually after a baseline test unless employees are exposed to an asthmagen when testing, in which case they will be undertaken 6 monthly for the first 2 years. The employee undergoes a number of breathing tests which are recorded on an electronic device, calculating the degree of airflow through the bronchial tubes.

SKIN CHECKS: Skin checks are carried out when employees work with substances that can cause irritation that could lead to dermatitis. The testing involves a questionnaire however if deemed positive, a physical examination is undertaken. The nurse will then examine the skin to determine the cause and what controls can be put in place. HAND ARM VIBRATION ASSESSMENT: Employees may be exposed to vibration at work if they use power tools. Vibration exposure may leave a number of medical effects that include pins and needles, numbness in the fingers or hands or reduced blood circulation. Employees can suffer from vibration white finger if vibration is not controlled. There are different HAV assessments that can be conducted by a technician, nurse or doctor; these are tier 1, tier 2, enhanced tier 2, tier 3 and tier 4. Tier 1 and 2 assessments are for workers that are likely to be exposed in excess of the daily exposure action value. If after 3 years of tier 2 assessments an employee reports no symptoms, then an enhanced tier 2 assessment is undertaken. If any symptoms are identified then tier 3 or 4 assessments will be required.

3

T : 0 8 4 5 0 5 0 4 0 6 0 W : WWW. E L A S . U K . C OM

4

T : 0 8 4 5 0 5 0 4 0 6 0 W : WWW. E L A S . U K . C OM

CASE STUDIES “An employee of a motor company’s body shop suffered from HAVS, having used a range of vibrating tools over a 17 year period. He was diagnosed with early stage Vibration White Finger (VWF) in 2001 - his first medical examination - and despite medical warnings his workload increased along with his usage of vibrating machines and, as a consequence, his condition deteriorated. Within two years he was diagnosed as having HAVS Stage 3 in both hands and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) in both wrists. Two improvement notices had been issued to the company in 2004, neither of which had been contested. A short while before the investigation process commenced the body shop closed. The investigating inspectors seized examples of the tools used by the employee. Subsequent tests by the Health and Safety Laboratory revealed that the employee’s daily vibration exposure had been around double (and often higher) than the 2.8 m/s2 A(8) action level recommended in HSE guidance at the time. The company was fined £10,000 with costs of £28,000, and the case was given significant media coverage.”

“Workers at a company in Bristol were exposed to hazardous chemicals over a four-year period, leading to the onset of a disease called Allergic Contact Dermatitis. One employee suffered four years of his skin blistering, cracking, splitting and weeping because of this allergic dermatitis. Two other employees also suffered the symptoms of allergic dermatitis, including fingers and hands becoming so badly swollen and blistered that one could not do up his shirt buttons without his fingers splitting open. All three employees had been working with photographic chemicals. The company was fined a total of £100,000 and ordered to pay £30,000 costs. They were fined £30,000 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and £10,000 for 6 separate breaches of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations for not making adequate risk assessments, not preventing or controlling exposure of employees to chemicals, and for not providing any health surveillance of employees at-risk. They were also fined £10,000 for not reporting a case of allergic contact dermatitis.”

5

T : 0 8 4 5 0 5 0 4 0 6 0 W : WWW. E L A S . U K . C OM

6

T : 0 8 4 5 0 5 0 4 0 6 0 W : WWW. E L A S . U K . C OM

T: 08450 50 40 60 W: www.e l as .uk .com E: info@e l as .uk .com