Rank: Forum user 
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Folks
Environmental monitoring has been carried out on our site by an approved supplier for air and noise. The results tell us that we have to carry out health surveillance. The health surveillance consisits of audiometry, spirometry, skin surveilance, vision screening, vibration screening and a general i.e. blood pressure etc. We have several employees who have refused to take part in the health surveillance. One employee doens't want to do as he is afraid that he will get bad results. Another employee doesnt want a third party knowing anything about his health etc and another employee is afraid we will use it against him. I have tried to reassure them that this is not the case and we are only being responsible employers and doing what the law asks of us. Help can someone who no doubt has come across advise we what i should do please. Eddy Thanks
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Rank: Super forum user 
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the joys of trying to do the right thing :)
I've only got time for a very quick reply - others will provide more guidance, I am sure
Carrot and stick springs to mind...
After explaining the benefits and what you are trying to achieve you may want to point out their obligation under the regulations (note some of what you stated such as general health are not legislative just good practice and so this doesn't apply)
For example CoSHH reg 11 - http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l5.pdf (page 61)
"(8) An employee to whom this regulation applies shall, when required by
his employer and at the cost of the employer, present himself during his working
hours for such health surveillance procedures as may be required for the purposes
of paragraph (1) and, in the case of an employee who is subject to medical
surveillance in accordance with paragraph (5), shall furnish the relevant doctor
with such information concerning his health as the relevant doctor may reasonably
require."
The management ACoP had more general guidance - but that's gone :(
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Rank: Super forum user 
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eddy wrote:. The results tell us that we have to carry out health surveillance. The health surveillance consisits of audiometry, spirometry, skin surveilance, vision screening, vibration screening and a general i.e. blood pressure etc.
Careful now! That's a hell of a list you've got there and some of it seems wholly spurious (Vision screening?!! Blood pressure? Skin Surveillance? Arising from air quality and noise reports?). I'd go back and check (or get a second opinion) before confirming arrangements. That or you're a victim of sales pitch from an Occ Health Provider salesman.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Eddy
On a general point, if you have found parts of the Management Regulations ACOP to be useful, there's surely no reason why you can't continue using it as a general guide when giving advice and making decisions, etc. Even though the ACOP has been withdrawn from formal publication, I guess that people working in OS&H will have continue to access to existing paper and/or electronic versions of it.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Is your supplier endorsed on the OSHCR?
From the information provided may I suggest he/she has got this completely wrong.
Jon
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Rank: Super forum user
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John M wrote:Is your supplier endorsed on the OSHCR?
From the information provided may I suggest he/she has got this completely wrong.
Jon
You don't have the evidence in the post to say that... It depends on the product they are using and it would be BOHS.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I have only asked the question - no more.
Jon
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Rank: Super forum user
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H&S Consultants/Consultancies undertake noise and air sampling- it is not only the preserve of BOHS bods.
Jon
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Rank: Super forum user
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Questions that arise from your posting:
Firstly, what is the justification for all these tests? What exactly are you doing to need these? More information on this would help in providing a considered response.
Who is going to carry out the surveillance? Who is going to interpret the data? If all the tests are really needed I would suggest that you need to review your exposure management, also you would need someone really well medically qualified to carry out the surveillance and interpretation.
Of course, if it does turn out that you do need blood tests, etc., then your employees will have to comply if they are to meet their regulatory obligations.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I agree with others above that that air and noise measurements alone cannot be a justification for the range of tests described.
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Rank: Super forum user
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An interesting subject.
Better do the blood pressure before the spirometry....the subjects blood pressure tends to get a bit higher during/immediately after spirometry. Some people have been known to faint during testing. You are better-off not testing...at least you don't know anything prior to testing. Afterwards you may, in some cases, have some serious decision-making to do! As somebody else [nearly] said..what is it about your poor management of risks that means you have to monitor health this way ?
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Rank: Forum user
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Folks
Many thanks for your replies.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Eddy
I would speak to an occupational health practitioner, preferably a qualified occupational health physician, show him the report with its recommendations and ask him for his view. That way you will be more certain as to what you really need in terms of health surveillance.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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