- Health surveillance is the pro-active monitoring of employees’ health to identify disorders at an early stage and help prevent recurrence. Most health surveillance is undertaken by occupational health professionals; some can be done by a suitably trained responsible person.
- Most health surveillance is prescribed in specific regulations (see types of health surveillance).
- Use your risk assessments with the advice of competent person to help identify where health surveillance is required and for what purpose.
- Health screening is useful to assess the effect of an employee’s health on their work. Decide whether health screening is appropriate. Some of it is prescribed in regulations (LGV, DSE, Working time) but much is widespread good practice (FLT drivers, overseas travel, arduous working).
- Arrange pre-employment medicals in order to provide baseline data to safe guard against future risk and claims.