Health Surveillance

The latest update to the Health Surveillance Policy is available to view.

Health surveillance is about systematically watching out for early signs of work-related, ill-health in employees exposed to certain health risks. It means putting in place certain procedures to achieve this and is required by law where there is a detectable disease associated with that type of work.

These procedures include:

Simple methods, such as looking for skin damage on hands from using certain chemicals
Technical checks on employees, such as hearing or lung function tests
More involved medical examinations perhaps where radiation or vibrating equipment is used

The first stage of any health surveillance programme is to identify potential hazards to health via a risk assessment. If the hazard cannot be completely controlled or eliminated, further steps need to be taken to protect employee health - one of which is to consider health surveillance.

Line managers should use the Health Surveillance Request Form to seek surveillance for employees who are exposed to certain risks.

The links below will lead you to additional information for employees/employers regarding Health Survelliance.

Pre-exposure Health Questionnaire

The Pre-exposure questionnaire must be completed by those who are attending the Occupational Health Unit, prior to commencing research/work with potentially harzardous chemicals or materials, human or primate blood, tissue or infected organisms, Ionising Radiation, Genetically Modified Organisms, or Lead.

All completed forms should be returned to Occupational Health Unit, 63 Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8LP or electronically to ohu@admin.gla.ac.uk

Respiratory Sensitiser Questionnaire

Employees who are exposed to respiratory sensitisers during the course of their work attend Occupational Health for health surveillance. Before attending for your first appointment you will be asked to complete the Respiratory Sensitiser Questionnaire

For subsequent appointments you will be asked to complete the Follow up respiratory questionnaire.

For more information about health in the workplace, see our factsheets on various health and work related issues:

UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Health Surveillance