by Shane Henson — March 25, 2013—The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the U.K.’s independent watchdog for work-related health, safety and illness, recently released new guidelines on health surveillance to make it easier for employers to understand what they need to do to check and protect their workers’ health.
The organization notes that even after all precautions are taken, there is still a risk that workers may be exposed to chemicals or other hazardous substances, such as asbestos. Past exposure to harmful substances at work is responsible for an estimated 12,000 deaths each year, says the organization.
The clear and simple guidance offered through HSE makes it easier for employers to decide whether their workers need health surveillance, how to go about it, and how to use the results. The guidance also makes it clearer when action is not needed, saving lower-risk businesses, such as those that are office-based, from wasting time and money, says HSE.
“We know from our work with industry that some businesses can be unclear about when health surveillance is needed and how to implement it, so are deterred from taking action,” says Paul Beaumont, HSE’s policy lead for health surveillance. “Other companies could be wasting money unnecessarily by implementing it where it’s not needed. This new guidance, developed with industry, should help take any mystery away and give employers the confidence to know whether or not health surveillance is appropriate.”
