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Health Surveillance

Catch Problems Early, Protect Your Workforce, Stay Compliant

Work-related ill health affects an estimated 1.9 million UK workers every year, costing the economy around £22.9 billion. Our health surveillance programmes are accurate, structured and fully compliant, helping you spot the early signs of harm before they become serious, and protect your people for the long term.

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Did you know?

Up to 300,000 working days are lost each year in the UK due to hand-arm vibration-related absences alone, many of which could have been caught earlier through regular health surveillance.

Protecting your workforce and your business

Why choose Health Surveillance?

Legal compliance

Meet your duties under COSHH, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations, and related legislation.

Catch problems early

Spot the first signs of work-related ill health before they become serious or permanent.

Protect your people

Support employee wellbeing and demonstrate a genuine duty of care.

Clear, actionable results

Straightforward reporting, with clinical advice on any next steps required.

Who needs Health Surveillance?

Any workplace where employees are exposed to a recognised health risk should be considering a surveillance programme. This includes roles involving excessive noise, hand-arm vibration, hazardous substances, dust or fumes, and skin irritants. Health surveillance is required wherever a risk assessment identifies that exposure cannot be fully controlled by other means, regardless of business size.

Assessment methods we use

Audiometry checks hearing for early signs of noise-induced damage, essential for anyone regularly exposed to high noise levels.

Spirometry measures lung function, commonly used for employees exposed to dust, fumes or other substances that can affect breathing.

Skin surveillance involves a trained assessor checking for early signs of irritation or dermatitis, particularly important for anyone working with oils, chemicals or frequent handwashing.

HAVS screening monitors employees using vibrating tools for early signs of damage to the hands and arms, which can become permanent if not caught in time.

When Health Surveillance takes place

  • ✓Baseline assessments, before an employee begins work in an exposed role
  • ✓Periodic checks, at intervals set by the specific risk and regulation
  • ✓Post-exposure surveillance, following a change in role or a known exposure
  • ✓Ongoing monitoring, for as long as the employee remains exposed to the risk
Client feedback

What our clients say

“
We have been working with David Barber for around 10 years and have always received an excellent level of service from the whole team. From arranging occupational health assessments to nurses visiting our care homes and meeting directly with our employees, the service is always professional, responsive and supportive. We mainly use David Barber to assess employees’ fitness for work following periods of absence or changes in their health. The team are always quick to respond and provide clear, helpful advice and guidance. They are also extremely flexible, offering appointments at our care homes or, where needed, visiting employees in their own homes. We have built a trusted relationship with David Barber over the years and genuinely wouldn’t go anywhere else for our occupational health support. Thank you to the whole team for your continued support and excellent service!
Ashmere Derbyshire
Beth Harrison, Head of People and Culture
“
DB Occupational Health has been a valuable partner to I Holland for several years now, supporting us with our employee occupational health surveillance programme, along with HAVS surveillance and the administration of annual flu vaccinations. Lisa and the team are always prompt and professional when on-site and are fast to respond to any queries at all times. Their ongoing support helps our business successfully maintain our duty of care to our employees and promote their wellbeing. I would recommend DB Occupational Health to any business considering their services.
Holland
Dan Dixon, HSE & CI Manager
Support

Frequently asked questions

What is Health Surveillance?

Health surveillance is a system of ongoing health checks for employees whose work could put them at risk of a work-related illness. It focuses on specific job risks, such as noise, vibration, dust or hazardous substances, and is designed to catch early signs of harm before they become serious.

Is Health Surveillance a legal requirement?

It is not required for every business, but it becomes a legal duty wherever a risk assessment identifies that employees are exposed to hazards such as noise, vibration, hazardous substances or ionising radiation, under legislation including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and COSHH.

Who needs Health Surveillance?

Anyone whose role exposes them to a recognised occupational health risk. This typically includes people working with hazardous substances, excessive noise, vibrating tools, ionising radiation, or in roles requiring skin or respiratory protection.

What does a Health Surveillance appointment involve?

This depends on the risk being monitored. It may include a symptom questionnaire, a hearing test, a lung function test, a skin check, or an assessment for hand-arm vibration exposure. Appointments are usually straightforward and non-invasive.

What happens if a problem is found during Health Surveillance?

Results are reviewed by a qualified occupational health professional, who will advise on next steps. This may include further investigation, changes to working practices, or additional protective measures.

How often is Health Surveillance required?

This depends on the hazard and the level of exposure. Some checks are carried out annually, others more or less frequently, and a baseline assessment is usually completed first. We can advise on the right schedule for your specific risks.

Who pays for Health Surveillance?

The employer. Health surveillance is part of an employer's legal duty of care, and employees should never be asked to cover the cost.

What is HAVS screening?

HAVS (Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome) screening monitors employees who regularly use vibrating tools or equipment. It checks for early signs of damage to the nerves, blood vessels and joints in the hands and arms, which can become permanent if not caught early.

What happens if an employee refuses Health Surveillance?

We would explain why the surveillance is needed and the possible risks of not taking part. In regulated situations, refusal needs to be documented, and further advice may be needed on how to manage the situation.

How long does a Health Surveillance appointment take?

Most appointments are quick, generally between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on how many checks are needed.

Catch problems early, protect your workforce, stay compliant

Contact David Barber Occupational Health to book Health Surveillance for your workplace.

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01332 318978
enquiries@dbocchealth.com
www.dbocchealth.com/health-surveillance