Health Surveillance

What is Skin Surveillance

Skin surveillance is typically required for employees exposed to and handling sensitising agents and skin irritants including machine oils, solvents, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. These chemicals and irritants slowly degrade the skin causing dryness, cracking and itching which can become very unpleasant for the employee. It is worth remembering an employee’s health should not be affected by the work they do and their hands are very much part of their health. Over time certain sensitising chemicals can cause and trigger skin sensitisation which along with exacerbated symptoms can in serious cases lead to anaphylaxis. Skin surveillance contributes to compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.

We can help you to manage this by completing skin health surveillance checks. These can be part of a health surveillance program or a standalone skin check. It typically includes a questionnaire and a visual skin check.

Following the skin health surveillance checks the employee and the employer will be given a Fitness for Work Certificate stating the outcome as fit for work or fit for work with restrictions.

Where can Skin Health Surveillance Checks be Carried Out

As with most of our services, these can be at your workplace or our offices in Wootton Bassett. If it’s only a handful of people or individuals then our office works well otherwise it makes sense to arrange at your workplace.

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What is Audiometry

Audiometry is hearing checks. The Noise at Work Regulations require employers to ensure that their business activities do not damage their employees’ hearing. Under the Noise at Work Regulations an employer must provide health surveillance (hearing checks) for all employees who are likely to be exposed above the upper exposure action value of 85dBA on a regular basis, or are at risk for any reason, such as already suffer from hearing loss or are particularly sensitive to damage.

The purpose of health surveillance hearing checks is to:

• warn you when employees might be suffering from early signs of hearing damage
• give you an opportunity to do something to prevent the damage getting worse
• check that noise control measures are working

We can help you to manage your requirements to provide health surveillance under the Noise at Work Regulations. These can be part of a health surveillance program or a standalone hearing check. It typically includes a questionnaire and a comprehensive hearing test.

Following the hearing check health surveillance the employee and the employer will be given a Fitness for Work Certificate stating the outcome as fit for work or fit for work with restrictions.

Where can Hearing Check Health Surveillance be Carried Out

As with most of our services, these can be at your workplace or our offices in Wootton Bassett. If it’s only a handful of people or individuals then our office works well, where we have a soundproof booth available, otherwise it makes sense to arrange at your workplace.

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What is Hand Arm Vibration

If your employees use hand held power tools, drive high mileage or drive work vehicles over rough and uneven surfaces as a main part of their job, they could be at risk of vibration related ill-health. Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) comes from the use of hand-held power tools, but there is also whole-body vibration (WBVS) which is transmitted through the seat or feet of employees who drive mobile machines, or other work vehicles, As part of your risk management, vibration health surveillance is vital to detect and respond to early signs of vibration related damage.

Under The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations, the employer is obligated to provide vibration health surveillance where this a risk to health from exposure to vibrating hand held equipment or of whole body vibration from vehicle use.

We can help you to manage your requirements to provide hand arm vibration health surveillance or whole body vibration health surveillance under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations . These can be part of a health surveillance program or a standalone Vibration Medical. Hand Arm Vibration Medicals include questionnaire, grip and Sensitivity testing. Whole body vibration includes a questionnaire and specialist appointment.

Following the Vibration health surveillance the employee and the employer will be given a Fitness for Work Certificate stating the outcome as fit for work or fit for work with restrictions.

Where can Hearing Check Health Surveillance be Carried Out

As with most of our services, these can be at your workplace or our offices in Wootton Bassett. If it’s only a handful of people or individuals then our office works well, otherwise it makes sense to arrange at your workplace.

In some cases onward referral to a specialist may be required; the Safewell Occupational Health team will manage this whole process for you and provide practical interpretation with the aim of rehabilitation of the employee back to work.

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What is Respiratory Screening / Lung Function Testing

Respiratory screening or lung function testing is just that, checking the function of the lungs to make sure nothing at work has reduced their function. It can also be known as spirometry. Under the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health regulations (COSHH), health surveillance is required where employees are at risk of ill health from substances they inhale. Typically this will include your work processes involving the use of respiratory sensitisers or where there is potential for ill-health effects from the dusts, vapours and gases employees may inhale.

We can help you to manage this by completing lung function testing for your employees. These can be part of a health surveillance program or a standalone lung function test. It typically includes a questionnaire and a person breathing into a spirometer.

Following the respiratory health surveillance checks the employee and the employer will be given a Fitness for Work Certificate stating the outcome as fit for work or fit for work with restrictions.

Where can Lung Function Health Surveillance Checks be Carried Out

As with most of our services, these can be at your workplace or our offices in Wootton Bassett. If it’s only a handful of people or individuals then our office works well otherwise it makes sense to arrange at your workplace.

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What is Face fit Testing

Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), employees who wear tight fitting face pieces (masks to protect them from dusts, solvents etc.) are required to have a face fit test to ensure the face piece/mask matches the employee’s facial features and will provide an adequate seal to protect the wearer. Tight fitting face pieces, dust masks, solvent masks, face masks, RPE and respiratory protective equipment are all terms for the same thing – a mask used to reduce the airborne hazards entering the lungs. A Face fit test is only required for masks with a tight face seal.

Why Face Fit Test?

Every individual has a uniquely shaped face, whereas all masks of the same make and model are identical. Therefore one size clearly cannot fit nor adequately protect every individual. To ensure the mask adequately protects the person a Face Fit Test should be completed.

We use a quantitative fit testing approach using a TSI Portacount. This avoids subjective test differences that can be associated with qualitative testing.

We can help you to manage this by completing face fit testing for your employees. These can be part of a health surveillance program or a standalone face fit test. It typically includes a questionnaire and a person wearing their own mask and performing a series of tests to establish if the mask fits correctly under the normal stresses of use. One face fit test is required for each different type of mask used.

Following the face fit test the employee and the employer will be given a Fitness for Work Certificate stating the outcome as pass or fail.

Where can Face Fit Testing be Carried Out

As with most of our services, these can be at your workplace or our offices in Wootton Bassett. If it’s only a handful of people or individuals then our office works well otherwise it makes sense to arrange at your workplace.

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Drug and Alcohol Services

Alcohol and substance abuse at work, costs employers millions of pounds each year, through the loss of productivity, increased sickness absence and increased accidents.

Our drug and alcohol services, run by experienced and trained Occupational Health Advisers (OHA’s), can help you to comply with legislation and help identify if drug and alcohol abuse is affecting your company productivity.

Testing Types

Safewell offer the following types of drug and alcohol testing:

• Pre-Employment (safety critical roles only—call to discuss)
• Pre Assessment Testing (for new employees)
• Random Testing (on suspicion or because of company policy
• For Cause Testing (following an event)

Drug Testing can be Chain of Custody or dip stick (urinalysis). Chain of Custody testing will stand up in a court of law, so is the preferred testing method for cases likely to go to a tribunal or ‘For Cause Testing’ due to a specific work related incident.

Alcohol Testing is done by breath analysis.

Referral and Counselling

Following the results, and where required, Safewell can arrange counselling and further referral to external agencies.

Training Awareness

Safewell offers drug and alcohol awareness training for:

• Employees – dangers of substance abuse at work and their responsibilities
• Managers – substance abuse sings to look for at work

Policy and Procedures

Safewell can help you write your drug and alcohol policies and procedures.

Where to Start

If you think you need some testing or suspect there is a problem, use the contact form on this page or call us 01793 852951 to discuss your concerns confidentially and we’ll advise you on the best route forward.

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What are New Employee Health Assessments

Employment health assessments (or Fitness for Work Assessments) are undertaken to ensure that an applicant is fit to perform the tasks for which they are being employed without risk to their own or to others’ health and safety. The assessments/medicals must be undertaken after offer of employment to comply with the Equality Act.

Carrying out employment health assessments will help you comply with The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and The Equality Act . There are specific legislation and Codes of Practice which require pre-employment screening for certain professions, including

• teacher and those coming into regular contact with young persons under the age of  19
• Health care professionals
• Professional drivers (LGV, train, lift truck)
• Food handlers
• Confined spaces workers
• Workers at Heights
• Safety Critical Workers;

Paper based screening is normally carried out initially. If any medical issues are identified a telephone consultation or a face to face assessment will be arranged with a qualified Occupational Health professional. The occupational health professional will review the duties, risks and medical requirements for the role and whether the applicant has any medical issue that could be affected by the duties and risk of the job.

The OH professional will provide a report within 48hrs to the company on any recommendations, adjustments and/or work place modifications that could be taken to reduce the risk and put in place any restrictions for the applicant to be able to carry out the role safety.

Where can New Employee Health Assessments be Carried Out

As with most of our services, these can be at your workplace or our offices in Wootton Bassett. If it’s only a handful of people or individuals then our office works well otherwise it makes sense to arrange at your workplace.

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Blood and Urinalysis Testing

Exposure to certain workplace hazards and chemicals can only be detected through urinalysis (urine testing) and blood screening. Typical workplace hazards include (plus a common use):

• Drugs and Alcohol (see separate tab)
• Isocyanates (in paints and adhesives)
• Lead (metal plating and etching)
• Nickel (metal plating and etching)
• MbOCA (used in moulded polyurethane articles)

Completing urinalysis and blood screening for traces of hazardous substances enables you to determine if your risk control measures are adequate or if employees are being exposed and it might be affecting their health. This health surveillance also assists you with compliance to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH).

Completing Urinalysis and blood screening can be a stand alone tests for your employees or (more commonly) these can be part of a health surveillance program. Urinalysis involves providing a sample and blood screening requires one of our trained Occupational Health Team taking a blood sample and submitting it for laboratory analysis.

Where can Urinalysis and Blood Screening be Carried Out

As with most of our services, these can be at your workplace or our offices in Wootton Bassett. If it’s only a handful of people or individuals then our office works well otherwise it makes sense to arrange at your workplace.

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