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matelot1965  
#1 Posted : 11 May 2021 21:25:41(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
matelot1965

We have an employee who fainted at work for the third time in 18 months. Each time the medical,professionals tell us and OH tell us medically he is fine and can return to work. I am obviously not comfortable with this and just need advice on how to proceed. There is no another job he can do on site It's like waiting for the day he collapses and seriously injures himself or someone else.

Acorns  
#2 Posted : 12 May 2021 06:17:39(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Acorns

What happened when you spoke to the employee?  Does it happen suddenly without warning or are there pre-emotive symptoms?  What task are they performing.  

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matelot1965 on 12/05/2021(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#3 Posted : 12 May 2021 07:27:53(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fainting/

Do any of the precursors apply - in particular being thirsty or having skipped meals? It is not uncommon for parents to forego food so their children can eat.

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matelot1965 on 12/05/2021(UTC), matelot1965 on 12/05/2021(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#4 Posted : 12 May 2021 07:27:53(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fainting/

Do any of the precursors apply - in particular being thirsty or having skipped meals? It is not uncommon for parents to forego food so their children can eat.

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
matelot1965 on 12/05/2021(UTC), matelot1965 on 12/05/2021(UTC)
craigroberts76  
#5 Posted : 12 May 2021 07:58:20(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
craigroberts76

get to the root cause, ask why, why and why.  possibly a medical condition, possibly heat, food, dehydration.

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matelot1965 on 12/05/2021(UTC)
A Kurdziel  
#6 Posted : 12 May 2021 08:11:05(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

We get this with students a lot: they skip breakfast and are not used to standing around for a long time. Some wear too many layers of clothing.

Find out what could be causing this; is it something  in the home eg skipping meals ;is it the job itself are they simply working too hard   with no breaks. What did the medic say and which medics. General practitioners and the like,  will just look at obvious signs of diseases while an occupational health specialist  will look at how the job might effect the person and identify factors which are not signs disease per se but will explain the fainting spells.

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matelot1965 on 12/05/2021(UTC)
stevedm  
#7 Posted : 12 May 2021 08:54:50(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stevedm

If you have already had your medical professional saying there is no problem...then perhaps if you are concerned then a formal referal for review...there are too many causes of fainting to be certain.  Not sure the 

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matelot1965 on 12/05/2021(UTC)
HSSnail  
#8 Posted : 12 May 2021 11:36:50(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
HSSnail

Agree with whats been said above, have a chat with employee and see if they are willing to explain why (but they dont have to) they may be working more than 1 job, be subjected to abuse at home who knows, a good employer would try and descreatly find out a little more- make a OH referal if you are worried. But form a H&S point of view are then any potential causes of fainting in the workplace (unlikly in most) and what are the potential conesequences? If this person works in an office then i think the risks are minimal - if they are drioving a FLT i would have real concerns. (just an example as i know as i know we emply different rules to fittness to work in different situations.)

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matelot1965 on 12/05/2021(UTC)
A Kurdziel  
#9 Posted : 12 May 2021 12:23:58(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

And of course people fainting at work can have tragic consequences: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Glasgow_bin_lorry_crash

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matelot1965 on 12/05/2021(UTC)
matelot1965  
#10 Posted : 12 May 2021 20:53:13(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
matelot1965

Thanks for taking themtime to reply and all the good advice. You have given me more questions to answer  - This will be a difficult one to deal with as each time the have fainted they claim not to remember anything that happened to them. 

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