Health SurveillanceWhat you need to know

Health Surveillance

• The University has a Health Surveillance policy.• http://staff.napier.ac.uk/services/hr/healthandsafety/policies/

Documents/health-surveillance-policy-2013.pdf

• Health surveillance is a monitoring tool, which checks out the effectiveness of health and safety control measures by detecting the early signs of work related ill health amongst staff who are exposed to certain types of risks.

• Where health surveillance has been identified as being required then you must comply with the policy.

Health SurveillanceThe objectives

• The objectives of health surveillance are: • a) Protect the health of individuals by detecting as early as possible

diseases or adverse health effects which may be work-related e.g. exposure to hazardous substances, including biological agents, and physical agents.

• b) Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of existing risk management measures and identify where any further action may be necessary.

• c) Obtain, use, keep up to date and retain data and information for determining and evaluating risks to health, including on commencement and following cessation of employment.

Health SurveillanceThe law

•Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999•Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002•The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005•The Control of vibration at Work Regulations 2005

Health SurveillanceHow does it work - When is health surveillance required?

Health SurveillanceHow does it work - When is health surveillance required?

The starting point of any health surveillance is the risk assessment. This is completed by trained risk assessors in each department. Once this has been completed all hazards and health hazards in the workplace should be identified. The following steps are important prior to any health surveillance being carried out:

•1. find out what the hazards are

•2. identify who might be at risk from exposure to these hazards and how

•3. decide what to do to prevent harm to health – e.g. remove the hazard altogether; reduce risks by changing the way work is done or use other controls; provide protective equipment.

If the above steps have been completed and risks still remain the University will need to take further steps to protect you.

Health Surveillance – when do we test?

• When initially employed in an area requiring HS. • Periodic assessment:

– Annually for the first 2 years, then as appropriate: – 3 yearly for hearing– Yearly for lung function/skin assessment– Yearly for HAVS

Health Surveillance – what do we test?

•Spirometry (lung function)– makes sure that your breathing is not being affected by work, or exposure to dust,

chemicals or fumes– For substances identified as respiratory sensitizers, irritants or asthmagens e.g.

laboratory animals, wood dusts, isocynates, glutoraldehyde

•Audiometry (hearing test)– can show if you have any hearing loss due to noise, either following exposure at

work, or in your hobbies. It is also a way of measuring if your hearing protection is working properly, and being worn according to the manufacturer recommendations.

– e.g. areas where daily personal exposure to noise exceeds 85dB

Health Surveillance – what do we test?

•Skin assessment– Skin surveillance, accompanies lung function testing, as skin can be irritated by

similar substances– For substances identified as skin irritants or sensitizers e.g. metal working fluids,

hard / soft woods, laboratory animals, cleaning agents, those undertaking frequent hand washing

•Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) assessment– is a way of finding out if you have an underlying medical condition which can be

affected by working with vibrating tools, or if working with vibration is affecting your hands arms, or circulation.

•General Medical Surveillance – e.g. night workers, drivers, food handlers, manual handling

Health Surveillance – why do we test?

•Provide a baseline for future tests to be compared against

•Will show if the measures put in place to are working efficiently

•Show early signs of the effects of work on health

•Allow steps to be taken to prevent further damage

•Your health surveillance is mandatory, and you cannot opt out.

Health Surveillance – What will happen?

• The University’s Occupational Health service will conduct the Health Surveillance

• You will be asked to complete a questionnaire which will be assessed by the OH Adviser

• Dependent on the tests required (as identified in the risk assessment) in addition you may be asked to :

- Measure your height , weight and blood pressure, pulse

- Spirometry (lung function) – breath into a piece of equipment ( puff test)

- Audiometry – undergo a hearing test, and a visual check of ears

- Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) assessment

- Sight checks – near/ distance and colour blindness

- Urine tests – safety critical, working in confined spaces, at heights, drivers.

Health Surveillance – What happens next?

•The results of your health surveillance will be explained to you on the day of the appointment. You will be informed on the if no further action is required and you are fit to work.•These results are kept, confidentially by the Occupational Health Provider for 40 years.•Your Director of Service/Head of School will receive a summary report only which will confirm that you are either fit to work or that further investigation is required. •If any of your test results require further investigation, either by your GP or by OH, you will be informed and follow-up will be arranged as appropriate.•If you are given test results to hand into your GP, it is your responsibility to do this.

Health Surveillance

Any questions?