Health Working Group Caroline Haslam CMIOSH Health Working

Health Working Group Caroline Haslam CMIOSH

Health Working Group Occupational Health ‘Position Paper’ – What is Occupational Health? A draft type document which would try to show industry what they must do to comply with legislation. Issues raised: Industry requires further guidance in understanding health surveillance. Dispel the myth that health should be looked after just by doctors or nurses. Better recognition of ill health symptoms/disease and their ability to affect work. Still suspicion when using occupational health. Duty holders need better guidance on how to purchase OH services which are appropriate and competent. Bring together all guidance ACOPS etc. under one umbrella

Health Working Group Revising (HSG 61) Competency Communication Health Surveillance in practice Revising (HSG 65)

Health Working Group Project – Principal Occupational Health Inspector – Julie Wood Interviewing duty holders and their Occupational health service provider. Interpretation of requirements Nature of service asked for and provided. Four sets of interviews completed. Four different delivery models identified.

Health Working Group Occupational Health Inspectors Tool being developed in regards to competency. Assessments of Occupational Health Services Providers based on : Faculty of Occupational Medicine standards Constructing Better Health EEF and NHS plus

Health Working Group HSE along with HSL are developing a research proposal on Hazardous Substances and exposure to construction workers Looking at what out there how accurate information is and were there could be any gaps. This is a long term project.

Health Working Party Risk Assessments should: Reference to relevant guidance Consider using a traffic light system approach

Health Working Party Red – Must do health surveillance Based on legal requirement based on RISK Examples given Skin checks for dermatitis Respiratory questionnaire Lung Function Test X-Ray Audiometry HAVS checks Biological Monitoring

Health Working Party Amber – Good Practice Health monitoring for musculoskeletal problems Health monitoring for COPD Pre-placement health checks Vision tests Exit medicals Drug and alcohol testing

Health Working Party Green – Not legally required and not work or risk related. Height Weight Blood pressure Cholesterol Vision Screening Urine Screening

Health Working Party Multidisciplinary Approach Nursing Occupational Hygiene Ergonomics Toxicology

Health Working Party Meeting on 1 st February 2011 Change of direction by the working party Move away from Occupational Health Surveillance Move towards Risk assessment based on facts Develop health control guides

Health Working Party going forward discussion points: Risk assessment – How Should occupational health be called something else e. g. workplace health Can the group put together good practice guides on controls Should the work be split - health issues / health surveillances

Health Working Party The next step: Sub group to write a position paper setting out what the working party aims and objectives are: Guidance for employers Guidance for employees Guidance for suppliers Guidance for designers Identification of NEW Occupational disease

Health Working Party HBF Please forward any health risk areas you would like the working party to include in the review process to Dave Hickman

Any questions?