Lung Function Test (Spirometry)

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and Management of Health & Safety Regulations 1999 require employers to make an assessment of the risks that employees are exposed to which may affect their health, including respiratory sensitizers and irritants.

The risks should be controlled and monitored and where appropriate health surveillance should be undertaken. Health surveillance in the form of a respiratory questionnaire and spirometry (lung function test) can assist in the detection of occupational asthma at an early stage and could protect the worker from getting this disabling disease. At least 1 in 10 new asthma cases in adults are caused by workplace exposure to substances and research in the UK shows that every year 4000 people may die from work related lung diseases.

Hearing Tests (Audiometry)

Noise induced hearing loss is a major occupational disease. A Medical Research Council survey in 1997-98 gave a prevalence estimate of 509,000 people in Great Britain suffering from hearing difficulties as a result of exposure to noise at work.

In 2007/08 21,000 individuals who worked in the last 12 months were suffering hearing loss which they believed to be work-related. The Noise at Work Regulations 2005 along with The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require Health Surveillance in the form of hearing tests that measure the sensitivity of people’s hearing over a range of sound frequencies.

Employers need to provide health surveillance:

• For all workers exposed above 85dBA
• For susceptible individuals if requested exposed between 80-85dBA

Skin Inspection

Occupational skin diseases are very common. Repeated contact with skin sensitisers and/or irritants can lead to Occupational Dermatitis.

Companies who have employees working with irritant or sensitising agents are required by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to control exposure and protect workers’ health. This includes provision of suitable Health Surveillance. 20,000 people who worked in the last 12 months suffered "skin problems" caused or made worse by work, this could include irritant or contact dermatitis, skin cancers and general exacerbation of underlying skin conditions.

Hand Arm Vibration Screening

Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) at work can arise from the use of hand-held power tools, hand-guided machinery and hand-fed machines. Prolonged and regular exposure to this vibration may affect the operator’s health. Examples of these symptoms include  tingling, numb or white finger tips. This may lead to occupational illness such as hand arm vibration syndrome - HAVS, which is better known as vibration white finger.

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 requires all employers to have health surveillance in place where people are at risk. Health surveillance must be in place for employees who are exposed above the action value (2.5m/s A (8)) and for employees who are sensitive to vibration to minimise the risk of the disease progression.

Health Surveillance for Hand Arm Vibration - HAVS

Health surveillance for Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome encompasses a “tiered approach”

 

• Tier One: Initial or Baseline Assessment
• Tier Two: Annual (Screening) Questionnaire
• Tier Three: Assessment by a qualified person
• Tier Four: Formal diagnosis
• Tier Five: Use of Standardised tests (Optional)