The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 provide the framework for the Health Surveillance requirements in the UK.

 

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) requirements for health surveillance vary significantly between different trades and workplace hazards.

 

Under the HSE there are trades requiring Mandatory Health Surveillance where it is a legal requirement for these industries to ensure correct health surveillance checks for all their workers. These include;

• Construction and Industrial Businesses; for example, workers using vibration tools, Asbestos workers, Stonemasons, Foundry workers and Lead workers,

• Employees in Chemical and Laboratory Work; employees exposed to carcinogens (cancer producing) or mutagens (cause mutations) , or substances toxic to reproduction and those in work where they are handling biological agents.

• Staff in Healthcare; Radiographers exposed to radiation, workers handling cytotoxic drugs and those at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

• Workers in Agriculture; those individuals exposed to pesticides, or Zoonotic disease from sheep.

• Workers in General Industries; Compressed Air workers (divers, caisson workers), workers exposed to loud noise above action level and shift workers in safety critical roles.

 

Sensitizers are substances that can cause an allergic reaction in the lungs and/or skin after exposure. There are numerous sensitizers in existence, but once an individual is allergic to one or several of these, even a minute amount of a substance can cause a severe reaction such as Occupational Asthma, or Contact Dermatitis.

 

All employers must provide appropriate health surveillance where there is reasonable likelihood that disease, or ill-health may occur and valid surveillance techniques exist.

 

In addition to the list above, other industries are also recommended to undertake health surveillance checks on their workforce. If your job role is not listed, please contact Peak Occupational Health for advice.