The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and Management of Health & Safety Regulations 1999, require employers to make an assessment of the risks of employees are exposed to which may affect their health, including respiratory sensitizers and, irritants. The risks should be controlled and monitored and, where appropriate, health surveillance should be undertaken.
Health surveillance in the form of a respiratory questionnaire and lung function test can help detect occupational asthma at an early stage and could protect the worker from getting this disabling disease.
At least 1 in 10 new asthma cases in adults are caused by workplace exposure to substances and research in UK show that every year 4000 people may die from work related lung diseases.
Employees working with respiratory sensitizers should be checked via questionnaire and lung function estimation at:
- Pre employment
- 6 weeks after employment
- 12 weeks after employment
- 6 months after employment and then annually.
Employees working with respiratory irritants should be checked via questionnaire and lung function estimation at:
- Pre employment
- After one year
- Questionnaire only for 2 years unless a problem is detected via this and questionnaire and lung function testing every third year.
Shea OH Lung Function Health Surveillance includes:
- Lung function test carried out at your work site
- Confidential data management and reporting, with employee consent
- Worker education at time of test
- Permanently retained records (40 years)
- Completed COSHH report for each individual to be kept at your company to demonstrate to regulators that you are compliant with the law.
