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HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
DEFINITION:
“SYSTEMATICALLY WATCHING OUT FOR EARLY SIGNS OF WORK-RELATED ILL HEALTH IN EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO CERTAIN HEALTH RISKS.”
MAY INCLUDE:
• Looking for/asking about signs
• Measurements
• Medical examinations
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SENSIBLE HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
RISK-BASED:IDENTIFY HEALTH HAZARDS (PLAN)
• How does the hazard affect the body?
• Workplace Exposure Limits [WELs] or other Action Points?
IMPLEMENT CONTROLS (DO)
• Prevent exposure(s); control exposure(s)
ARE THESE EFFECTIVE? (CHECK)
• Measure residual exposure(s)
• Look for ill health evidence/indicators
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TYPICAL DEFICIENCIES
NO SYSTEMATIC HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENTS (HRA)
‘RANDOM’ HEALTH-RELATED PROCEDURES
INDIVIDUAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE DATA ONLY
• No analysis of data, no link to controls
• No systematic feedback to employer
• No formal review, to optimise surveillance
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REPEATED SURVEYS AND ASSESSMENTS,NO IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS
THE RANGE OF HEALTH HAZARDS
PHYSICAL
• Noise
• Hand-arm vibration
• Ionising radiation, diving
CHEMICAL
• Liquid, vapour/fume, gas
DUST
• Asbestos
BIOLOGICAL
PSYCHO-SOCIAL
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A SENSIBLE APPROACH
1. WHO MIGHT BE EXPOSED?
• Identify Similar Exposure Groups (SEGs)
• Review current controls: improvements needed?
2. FOR EACH SEG, ARE LIKELY EXPOSURES SIGNIFICANT?
• Assess/measure ‘reasonable worst case’ exposures
• Consider Health Surveillance unless << WEL
3. CAN SPECIFIC ILL HEALTH SYMPTOMS BE DETECTED?
NEED COMPETENT ADVICE FOR:
• Controls review
• Exposure measurements
• Health Surveillance plan
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OFFSHORE OPERATIONS EXAMPLE
HRA FOR EACH FACILITY (OFFSHORE, ONSHORE)
• Occ. Hygienist for higher hazards
• H&S Advisor for lower hazards
SEGS IDENTIFIED
• Office/generic
• DSE users
• Catering
• Operations
• Drilling
• Maintenance
• Painters
• Cleaners
• Shifts
• NDT
• Medic/First Aiders
• New/expectant mothers
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OPTIMISED SURVEILLANCE
NO EXPOSURES NEAR WEL/ACTION POINT
• Reactive only
APPROACHING WEL/AP
• Workplace monitoring
• Include job-related checks in ‘routine medicals’
AT/ABOVE WEL/AP
• Specific monitoring + 100% health surveillance
• Review results, reduce intensity if no evidence of control failures
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OTHER ESSENTIALS(NOT COVERED BY THIS PRESENTATION)
WORKER INVOLVEMENT, INCLUDING
• Suitable information, instruction, training
• Contractors
‘PERSON ACCOUNTABLE’ FOR THE OVERALL SYSTEM
INTEGRATED HEALTH AND SAFETY
RECORDS
CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS
• Regular reinforcement
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FURTHER INFORMATION
UNDERSTANDING HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AT WORK, INDG304
HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AT WORK, HSG61(3rd edition due April 2011)
Workplace Exposure Limits, EH40
OCC HEALTH SERVICE STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION
www.facoccmed.ac.uk/pubspol/pubs.jsp
OCC SAFETY& HEALTH CONSULTANTS REGISTER
www.oshcr.org
HAWKES ASSOCIATES
www.hawkesassociates.co.uk
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