49 Melford Court,
Hardwick Grange,
Woolston,
Warrington,
Cheshire.
WA1 4RZ
Telephone: 01925 838350
Fax: 01925 838351
Email: office@soundadviceltd.co.uk
On-Site Health Surveillance
Occupational Health Services
Our Services Include:
- New starter work health assessments (was pre-employment questionnaire)
- Sickness absence management
- Skin Checks (Dermatitis)
- Night worker medicals
- Lone worker health assessments
- Fork lift truck (FLT) medicals
- Management referrals
- Stress management
- Hand arm vibration syndrome
(HAVS) clinical assessments
Health Surveillance for Dermatitis at work (skin checks)
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
What is health surveillance?
Health surveillance is collecting and using information about workers' health, related to the substances they use.
If you use a substance that causes dermatitis, it is likely that health surveillance will be required because:
- there are valid ways to detect the disease or condition; and
- it is reasonably likely that damage to health will occur under the particular conditions at work; and
- health surveillance is likely to benefit the employee.
Read the label or check the safety data sheet to find out whether a substance causes dermatitis.
The supplier or manufacturer should be able to assist - they have to provide you with this information.
Substances or materials marked with the following risk phrases are likely to be a problem:
- Irritating to the skin [R38]
- May cause sensitisation by skin contact [R43]
- Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking [R66]
The most common materials and substances that cause dermatitis are:
- solvents used in paint, adhesive or other surface coatings;
- oils and grease;
- degreasers, descalers and detergents;
- disinfectants;
- bitumen or asphalt;
- epoxy resins and hardeners;
- sealants;
- release agents (mould oils) used by formworkers.
In the workplace, simple health surveillance will usually be enough. Skin checks should be carried out at regular intervals by a 'responsible person'.
This could be an existing worker who you have trained and appointed to carry out regular (at least monthly) skin checks and to administer an annual skin questionnaire.
Any employees with a problem should be referred to an occupational health practitioner (nurse or doctor) for a more detailed assessment.
It is good practice to encourage workers to check their own skin for dermatitis and report any concerns to the responsible person.
Make sure they know why they are doing this - to prevent them developing dermatitis.
Record keeping
You must keep simple health records to help monitor health.
Health surveillance is never an alternative to the proper control of exposure.
It is not the same as health screening or health promotion.
Contact us now on 01925 838350 and speak to one of our consultants for further advice on your company's needs.
Tel: (01925) 838350 - Fax: (01925) 838351 - Email: office@soundadviceltd.co.uk