Here at Sarsen Health, we often get asked if we provide ‘fit for work’ assessments – however this is quite a broad term, so which occupational health assessment do you need to stay compliant?

Statutory Health Surveillance

Health Surveillance is needed to protect the health of employees who are exposed to certain risks in the workplace, to identify work related ill health as early as possible, and to ensure control measures are effective.

Health surveillance does not reduce the need to eliminate or manage health risks. Formal health surveillance is only necessary if work damages health in a particular way, and the following factors apply:

  • there is a valid way to detect a disease or condition
  • it is reasonably likely that damage to health will occur under the particular conditions at work
  • health surveillance is likely to benefit the employee.

Statutory Health Surveillance is required under the following legislation:

  • Control of Noise at Work Regulations
  • COSHH Regulations
  • Control of Vibration at Work Regulations

Safety Critical Worker Health Assessments

The Safety Critical Worker standards have recently been updated by SOM. Safety Critical is often defined as ‘Where the health of an individual may compromise their ability to undertake a task defined as safety critical, thereby posing a significant risk to their health and that of other workers’ Examples of SCW jobs include: confined space work, work at heights, plant operators, work on high speed networks.

Whether Health Surveillance or a Safety Critical Worker assessment is required, a number of health checks will be carried out, and robust advice provided to the employer – thereby protecting employee health and keeping employers compliant.

If you require health assessments for your employees, or would like to talk about your requirements, get in touch today.

The updated Safety Critical Worker standard can be found here.