I am looking some advice on the requirements for medical assessments for working inside confined spaces? We work on a variety of sites where confined space work is necessary, some are very low risk confined spaces and some are higher risk confined spaces. The site I predominantly work on has a verity of levels, some of which are very low risk such as minor work within a trench with effluent running in pipes or open roof tanks that have no risk of gas ingress etc. We always use an independent occupation health centre for our confined space/BA Medical assessments and up until a year or two ago these used to be every three years for anyone under 50 and every year for any over 50. We have been informed that these rules have since changed and we have been told we need to do these every year for every employee. I understand according to the Confined Space Regulations we need to get medical advice on an individuals suitability for the work may be needed but does this mean all types of confined space work or just where risk assessment highlights increased risk due to the nature of the confined space. Some of the work we will do will require no extra physical demands than work outside of a confined space. I was just wondering how far other people take medical assessments for confined space work and if anyone has a hierarchy where self-medical declarations are used for certain risk levels and additional controls such as external examination by occupational health specialist for higher risk confined spaces? I also wondered for those who do conduct external medical assessments are these done yearly or three yearly. Thanks for any advice.

Most water utilities that have staff who carry out confined space work also carry out medicals every three years for such employees under 50, and on an annual basis over that age. The "rules" that you have mentioned are not statutory (nor even guidance from HSE) and will vary between OH providers. I would suggest that you ask your OH providers to justify their change (and ask for a copy of the "rules" ) and also seek quotations / opinions from other providers. PH2