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DHM  
#1 Posted : 26 November 2014 11:58:24(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
DHM

Hello everyone,

Can someone please tell me if it is compulsory for a night worker to complete a health check questionnaire? I need to know so that I can add it into a template H&S Policy.

Be nice,

Thanks in advance
DHM
jwk  
#2 Posted : 26 November 2014 12:02:17(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jwk

They must be offered a free health check and this should be followed up at regular intervals. They don't have to take the offer up, and a questionnaire is only one way of doing the check,

John
fscott  
#3 Posted : 26 November 2014 15:07:44(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
fscott

As JWK you only obligation is to offer the health assessment. We used to offer a paper screen which was reviewed by our occupational health provider and only if there were issues identified through this were they required to see our OHP at a prearranged appointment. We did this annually and the paper screen only cost £10 per head.

When we issued the paper based questionnaire from our OHP we attached a simple memo explaining that we were obliged under WTR to offer this to all night workers but that employees were under no obligation to partake. We drafted a simple statement that was also attached which they were requested to sign if they did not wish to partake in the night workers assessment so that we had evidence of us fulfilling our obligations.
chris.packham  
#4 Posted : 26 November 2014 15:18:33(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris.packham

As it appears that you are in waste management you will almost certainly fall into one of the categories that the current ACoP for COSHH list as being where health surveillance is required.

Take a look at this extract:
==
Examples where health surveillance is appropriate under the criteria in regulation 11(2)(b) are:
where there have been previous cases of work-related ill health in the workforce/place;
where there is reliance on PPE, eg gloves or respirators, as an exposure control measure; eg printers wearing gloves to protect against solvents used during press cleaning, or paint sprayers using two-pack paints wearing respirators to prevent asthma. Even with the closest supervision there is no guarantee that PPE will be effective at all times;
where there is evidence of ill health in jobs within the industry; eg frequent or prolonged contact with water (termed ‘wet-working’) causing dermatitis in hairdressers and healthcare workers, or breathing in mists from chrome plating baths causing chrome ulcers in platers.
==
So IMO you should already be doing regular health surveillance on all employees covered by the above, not just night shift workers.

Chris
jwk  
#5 Posted : 26 November 2014 15:30:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jwk

Another thing to be quite sure about is whether or not you have night workers; it may be that it's very obvious that you do, but there are criteria which you need to use to decide if somebody is a night worker; this link sets out the meaning of night work https://www.gov.uk/night...g-hours/hours-and-limits and is part of a site which is full of helpful advice,

John
DHM  
#6 Posted : 26 November 2014 16:38:29(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
DHM

Thanks everyone. I used to be in waste management, now I'm doing something completely different!
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