Health Surveillance
Protect your employees' health and meet your legal health surveillance responsibilities with tailored occupational health programmes.
Insight Workplace Health supports organisations of all sizes, delivering assessments at your workplace, through our mobile screening units or at our clinics.
What is Health Surveillance?
Health surveillance is a programme of ongoing health checks designed to identify early signs of work-related ill health in employees exposed to certain workplace hazards, such as noise, vibration, hazardous substances or airborne contaminants.
Depending on the risks identified, it may involve hearing tests, lung function assessments, skin checks, hand-arm vibration assessments or biological monitoring.
Health surveillance helps employers identify potential health concerns at an early stage, review whether existing workplace controls are effective and take appropriate action to protect employees.
Unlike a one-off medical assessment, health surveillance involves ongoing monitoring where required, with the type and frequency of checks determined by workplace risks and relevant legal requirements.
Detects Early Signs
Helps identify early signs of work-related ill health so appropriate action can be taken before conditions worsen.
Monitors Health Over Time
Tracks changes in employee health through regular assessments, where required by workplace risks.
Supports Workplace Controls
Provides information that can help employers review the effectiveness of existing control measures and take action to protect employees.
When Is Health Surveillance Required by Law?
Health surveillance is a legal requirement in certain circumstances where employees remain exposed to workplace health risks, even after appropriate control measures have been introduced.
The need for surveillance depends on the hazards identified, the level and nature of exposure, and the findings of the employer's risk assessment. Not every employee or workplace will require the same assessments.
Health surveillance must form part of a wider approach to managing workplace risks. It does not replace suitable risk assessments, exposure controls or other preventative measures.
Not Sure What Health Surveillance Your Organisation Needs?
Our Discovery Audit provides an opportunity for an experienced occupational health clinician to visit your workplace, review relevant health risks and discuss appropriate occupational health support.
Whether you're establishing a new programme or reviewing existing arrangements, a Discovery Audit can help identify where further assessments or ongoing surveillance may be beneficial.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002
Health surveillance is required in certain circumstances where employees are exposed to hazardous substances that could cause identifiable work-related health conditions, such as occupational asthma or dermatitis.
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
Hearing surveillance is required for employees regularly exposed above the upper noise exposure action value of 85 dB(A), or where they are otherwise identified as being at risk of hearing damage.
Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
Health surveillance is required where employees are identified as being at risk from hand-arm vibration, including those regularly exposed above the daily exposure action value of 2.5 m/s² A(8).
Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002
Medical surveillance by an HSE-appointed doctor or employment medical adviser is required where employees' exposure to lead is, or is liable to be, significant under the Regulations.
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Medical surveillance is required for employees carrying out licensed asbestos work and certain notifiable non-licensed work, with different medical examination arrangements applying to each category.
Our Health Surveillance Services
We provide a range of occupational health assessments and screening services to help employers monitor employee health, identify early signs of work-related ill health and manage workplace health risks.
The assessments required will depend on the hazards identified within your workplace and the nature of employees' exposure.
Hearing assessments for employees exposed to workplace noise, helping to identify early signs of hearing loss and monitor changes in hearing health over time.
Regular skin assessments for employees exposed to substances that may cause occupational dermatitis or other work-related skin conditions, helping to identify early signs of irritation or damage.
Lung function testing for employees exposed to respiratory hazards such as dust, fumes and certain chemicals, helping to identify changes that may indicate work-related respiratory conditions.
Appropriate biological testing, such as blood or urine sampling, to assess exposure to certain hazardous substances and support workplace exposure management where relevant.
Health assessments for employees exposed to hand-arm vibration from tools and equipment, helping to identify early symptoms of vibration-related conditions and monitor employee health.
Vision assessments to help employers understand whether employees meet relevant visual requirements for their roles, particularly where clear eyesight is important for safe working.
Flexible Health Surveillance to Suit Your Workplace
We provide a range of occupational health assessments and screening services to help employers monitor employee health, identify early signs of work-related ill health and manage workplace health risks.
The assessments required will depend on the hazards identified within your workplace and the nature of employees' exposure.
At Your Workplace
Many health surveillance assessments can be carried out directly at your premises by our occupational health professionals, without the need for a dedicated mobile screening unit.
This provides a convenient way to assess employees while reducing travel time and disruption to their working day.
Mobile Screening Units
Our mobile screening units allow us to deliver suitable health surveillance assessments on-site, providing a practical option for larger groups of employees and organisations with multiple locations.
We can work with you to coordinate appointments around your operational requirements.
Supporting Ongoing Health Surveillance Programmes
Health surveillance is often an ongoing requirement rather than a one-off assessment. We can help organisations coordinate repeat assessments and appropriate follow-up, with arrangements tailored to workplace risks and employee needs.
How Our Health Surveillance Programmes Work
1
Understand Your Requirements
We discuss your workplace risks, workforce and existing arrangements to identify the health surveillance assessments that may be appropriate for your organisation.
2
Plan and Arrange Assessments
We work with you to coordinate appointments at your workplace, through our mobile screening units or at our clinics, depending on your requirements.
3
Carry Out Health Surveillance
Our occupational health professionals undertake the relevant assessments using appropriate equipment and clinical procedures, with further review and recommendations where needed.
4
Report, Review and Follow Up
We provide relevant outcomes and recommendations to help you manage workplace health risks, including further assessments, appropriate follow-up and ongoing monitoring where required.