Health surveillance is important for:
- detecting ill-health effects at an early stage, so employers can introduce better controls to prevent them getting worse
- providing data to help employers evaluate health risks
- enabling employees to raise concerns about how work affects their health
- highlighting lapses in workplace control measures, therefore providing invaluable feedback to the risk assessment
- providing an opportunity to reinforce training and education of employees (e.g. on the impact of health effects and the use of protective equipment)
It is essential that health professionals involved in health surveillance have the necessary expertise. All of our clinical staff are fully trained and competent in providing health surveillance.
EHA Limerick can:
- Advise you on a suitable health surveillance programme for your employees
- Set up the programme
- Provide the necessary training and supervision for your staff if they are going to help with the basic health surveillance
- Provide suitably qualified and experienced staff to carry out the higher level health surveillance
- Arrange for health surveillance to be performed on site or at our offices depending on your particular needs. Some types of health surveillance such as lung function testing and biological monitoring can only be performed in a controlled environment which may determine where they can be performed.
- Provide you with reports on your employees’ fitness to continue work
- Provide you with regular reports outlining the overall results and any trends that may be apparent so that you can act on these appropriately. We also advise on what actions may be required.
- Advise you on the record keeping requirements of the health surveillance programme.
Biological Monitoring
Biological Monitoring is the measurement and assessment of workplace agents or their metabolites (substances formed when the body converts the chemical) in exposed workers e.g. samples of breath, urine, or blood, or any combination of these.
Biological effect monitoring is the measurement and assessment of early biological effects in exposed workers caused by absorption of substances (including chemicals). We can advise you on whether this form of monitoring is appropriate for your organization.
Hearing
For workers in noisy environments to determine early effects of noise damage on the ears.
Health surveillance usually consists of a questionnaire, examination and hearing test in a controlled environment
Respiratory
For workers who wear respiratory protective equipment.
Health surveillance usually consists of a questionnaire, examination and lung function testing, as well as specific respirator fit testing if requested.
Skin
For workers in jobs where there is a risk of skin damage.
Health surveillance usually consists of a questionnaire, examination and sometimes other tests such as skin prick tests.
Stress
Concern about psychosocial risks such as stress, violence, bullying, harassment is increasing in most organisations. It is one of the leading causes of absence and costs business huge sums of money. Our Doctors and Nurses are here to give you the expert advice you need to minimise risks to your Business
Vibration
For workers exposed to vibration at work.
Health surveillance consists of a questionnaire, examination and medical testing as appropriate.
Vision
For workers in jobs which require a high standard of visual ability.
Health surveillance usually consists of a questionnaire, examination and Keystone Test