Health Surveillance Policy

Health surveillance may be required by law if staff are exposed to noise or vibration, solvents, fumes, dusts, biological agents and other substances hazardous to health, or work in compressed air.

For such work where it is not possible to absolutely protect against health risks, Occupational Health monitors the health of all staff involved. The aim is to detect signs of problems as early as possible so that we can help the person as well as check whether any action is needed to protect others.

The Hazardous Substance Policy includes arrangements for compliance with Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations and gives guidance on how the legal requirements may be met. The Health Surveillance Policy provides guidance on how to identify the need for health surveillance for staff and the circumstances that this is likely to be necessary.

Occupational Health currently runs comprehensive health surveillance programmes for research with laboratory animals and insects and for work with hazard group 3 pathogens and class 3 genetic modification projects.

We also run Noise and HAVS surveillance programmes where, through risk assessment, an employee has been identified  from the risk of noise at work and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), which can be caused by exposure to power tools or other vibrating equipment for long periods.

If you are planning other work for which following the completion of a risk assessment, health surveillance may be required but you are unsure, please contact OH to discuss this.

Other such work may include: