Rank: Forum user 
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I would be interested to know in the techniques or systems any of my colleagues use for internal health surveillance for employees. We refer to external occuaptional health when required and also have pre-employement health questionnaires. However I am thinking more along the lines of internal monitoring and surveillance - for example on exposure to dust, noise, night working etc i.e activities/hazards associated with our workplace. Have you found that employees "buy in" to questionnaires or is there a more effective internal system in your opinion? We do encourage contact with managers/HR/H and S but employees don't always find it easy to approach. Grateful for your thoughts.
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Rank: Forum user
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I am a Safety Advisor for a demolition company, i personally monitor the Health of our employees and regularly visit them on sites to assess their health, i have been informed recently that two of our middle aged employees have had pins and needles like pains in their hands, this was after using compressed air tools, albeit only for the reccomended times, i have since ensured that they do not use vibratory tools. The only way in which you can really monitor the Health of your employees in my opinion, is to periodically send them for medical examinations, which is not always possible, or accepted by the employee, therefore, i feel that we all have to strive to implement control measures that far exceed those recommended and supply PPE which exceedes recommendation. Then continually monitor the employee, we know that if an employee is continually exposed to a dusty emvironment, then the first signs of breathing problems is what we should be looking for. With noise, the first signs of tinatas or hearing problems. Night working, first signs of fatigue. A questionnaire simply gives the oportunity to withold information. I feel that i have gained the trust and respect of our employees and would like to think that they would approach me if there were a problem with their health, hopefully at an early stage, thus enabling me to either rectify the problem, or stop it from getting worse.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Dave
the employer has a legal obligation to carry out health surveillance for certain substances. The employee also has a legal obligation to assist and not obstruct the employer in carrying out his duties. If your health surveillance arrangements / plans are properly communicated after full consultation with the TU Safety Reps there should be no problems.
Your COSHH Assessments will identify some of your health surveillance requirements, Lead, Vibration, and other legislation will identify some of the others. These regulations require Health Surveillance that does not need employee consent.
The Health Surveillance described by Rick falls far far short of the requirement.
It is essential that you contract in or employee a professional HS Advisor or Occ Hygienist to identify the requirements for your business, conduct proper surveys / assessments, record the results and draw up action plans for controlling the risks.
An Occ Health Nurse will also be required to do the health assessments
Many companies carryout safety critical medicals (health surveillance) periodically for crane, FLT drivers etc.
In the main occ hygine services are contracted in due to cost efficiency, only some companies operate their own service.
Steve
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