Health Surveillance

ISO 45001:2018 Clause 9.1 · Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 · COSHH 2002 · Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 · Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 · Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 — Health surveillance for occupational exposures

Procedure overview

A M Water Services arranges health surveillance for any operative whose risk assessment identifies an exposure that triggers statutory health surveillance under COSHH (respirable crystalline silica, hardwood dust, sensitisers), the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (HAVS), or the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. The HSQE Consultant determines the level of surveillance required (baseline, periodic, exit), appoints an approved occupational-health provider, arranges the surveillance with the appointed practitioner, and provides each affected operative with a full explanation of the nature, frequency and use of the results. Results feed back to the HSQE Consultant as a measure of the accuracy of the risk assessment and the effectiveness of control measures; adverse results trigger re-evaluation of the risk assessment and improvement of controls. Surveillance records are retained for the working life of the employee plus 40 years per the COSHH / Asbestos retention requirements.

Health Surveillance — Process Flow

HSQE Consultant

Sean Ashton

Identify Need

Has health surveillance been identified by risk assessment as a requirement of a specific Regulation? (COSHH, Lead, Asbestos, HAVS, Noise)

Identifiable work-related disease or adverse health condition?

No surveillance required — document the negative finding on the risk assessment

Yes

Establish the level of surveillance required (baseline / periodic / exit)

Directors & HSQE Consultant

Aaron Mason (MD)
Sean Ashton

Appoint & Brief

Appoint an approved occupational-health body to perform the surveillance

Arrange health surveillance with the appointed practitioner at the established frequency

Provide a full explanation to affected employees: nature of surveillance, frequency, what happens to results, who has access

Health Surveillance Provider & HSQE Consultant

Approved OH provider
Sean Ashton (review)

Survey & Review

OH provider performs required health surveillance at the established frequency

OH provider issues fitness statement (fit / fit with restrictions / unfit) and surveillance result to AMWS

HSQE Consultant reviews surveillance results as a measure of: accuracy of risk assessment, effectiveness of control measures

If adverse condition identified: review / re-perform risk assessment; introduce risk-management improvements; update BMS

Maintain records for the working life of the employee plus 40 years

SOP 4.7 Control of Records

Process / Activity

Decision Point

Document / Cross-reference

Continue / Compliance

Health surveillance triggers and tier of provision

Surveillance requirement is determined by the exposure type and level. Where exposure is below the action level but ongoing, surveillance is still required for sensitisers and IARC Group 1 carcinogens.

Exposure	Trigger / threshold	Surveillance	Frequency
Hand-arm vibration	Action value 2.5 m/s² A(8); Limit 5.0 m/s² A(8) (per `SOP 8.10`)	Tier 1 questionnaire (annual); Tier 2 nurse review (if Tier 1 +ve); Tier 3 occupational physician (if Tier 2 +ve)	Annual
Noise	Above Upper Action Value 85 dB(A) L_EX,8h (per `SOP 8.9`)	Audiometry — baseline + annual for 2 years, then 3-yearly if no shift	Annual then 3-yearly
Respirable crystalline silica	Any exposure above background — especially exposure approaching or exceeding 0.1 mg/m³ (per `SOP 8.5`)	Lung function (FEV1, FVC) + symptom questionnaire	Pre-employment, annual, exit
Asbestos	Any work with ACMs (per `SOP 8.14`) — both licensed and notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW)	Statutory medical examination by HSE-appointed doctor	Pre-exposure, then 2-yearly
Lead	Lead exposure above CLAW 2002 action level (50 µg/dL men; 25 µg/dL women of reproductive capacity)	Blood lead measurement	3-monthly minimum
Respiratory sensitisers / occupational asthma	Any exposure to a known sensitiser (e.g. MDI, isocyanate paints, flour dust)	Symptom questionnaire + spirometry	Pre-employment, then 6-weekly for first 12 weeks, then annual
Skin / dermatitis	Any wet work, COSHH-controlled liquids, mineral oils, cement dust	Skin inspection + questionnaire	Annual
Hardwood dust	Above WEL 3 mg/m³ (per `SOP 8.5`)	Lung function + nasal symptoms questionnaire	Annual

Records retention: all health surveillance records are retained for at least 40 years from the date of last entry per the Control of Asbestos Regs 2012 reg. 22 / COSHH 2002 reg. 11 — longer than the operative's working life. Confidentiality: AMWS receives a fitness statement from the OH provider; clinical detail remains with the OH provider unless the operative consents in writing to wider disclosure.

Health Surveillance

Health Surveillance — Process Flow

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