Guide
Welding risk assessment
In this guide, we'll discuss safety hazards, risk management, and adequate control measures for welding.
- Risk Assessment
Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
Health surveillance advice guide for employers from Peninsula Business Services UK. Employers call us today on 0800 0282 420.
The health & safety of your employees should be your top priority. This includes having workplace control measures to protect workers from health risks. As well as using a health surveillance programme if your business is hazardous.
Health surveillance programmes can help mitigate adverse health effects. And identify any potential dangers in the workplace. If you don't use one - and your business is high-risk - you could face injuries at work and compensation claims.
In this guide, we'll discuss what health surveillance is, the different programmes, and when employers should use one.
Health surveillance is any activity that involves gathering information about your employee's health. This is to ensure they have appropriate protection from an adverse health effect in the workplace. It should not be confused with:
Employers will use occupational health surveillance programmes to monitor health. It typically involves a series of ongoing health checks that allows them to monitor health in the workplace. These checks may include:
A competent person should administer a health surveillance programme. This is a person with the appropriate knowledge and training in occupational health. As well as experience collecting data from employees.
A professional qualified in occupational health services must then interpret the results. This is usually a nurse or a doctor.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, a workplace must legally have a health surveillance programme. This is only if employees are still exposed to hazards after control measures are put in place.
Health surveillance is necessary for several reasons. Including:
Employers carry out health surveillance under certain standards. Criteria for conducting health surveillance includes:
Health surveillance is conducted when employees are exposed to hazardous substances at work. If employees report poor health from these substances, their employers should have health assessments requested.
Substances hazardous to health include:
It's important to carry out health surveillance to prevent minor health issues from becoming more severe. Health surveillance will establish what health issues you need to be aware of. Examples of an adverse health effect include:
If there are valid techniques for detecting ill health at your work, you should also conduct health surveillance. For example, welders are frequently exposed to gases that can be harmful. This can result in occupational asthma.
Under a health surveillance programme, a doctor would identify whether these gases have caused ill health risks. Which can then help mitigate the issue early on.
If you're unsure whether you need to perform health surveillance at your work, you should conduct a risk assessment. Risk assessments establish what activities or substances at work can cause harm to employees.
Risk assessments also help you to:
You must ensure your business offers health surveillance services if the law requires it. This includes investing in safety controls at work. And having a medical professional monitor the health of your employees.
Otherwise, you may risk the health of your staff members. As well as facing compensation claims, financial loss and even reputational damage.
Peninsula offers you expert 24/7 HR advice and support, to help you implement health surveillance at work. As well as advising you on health & safety and workplace control measures. Contact us today on 0800 0282 420.
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