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Understanding Health Surveillance Requirements
When is health surveillance a legal requirement, and what does a good programme look like?
Health surveillance is a structured programme of health checks designed to detect early signs of work-related ill health. Under HSE regulations it is a legal requirement wherever employees are exposed to specific hazards.
Common surveillance programmes include audiometry (noise), HAVS (hand-arm vibration), spirometry (respiratory), and skin checks (dermatitis). The exact frequency depends on the regulation and the level of exposure.
A good surveillance programme isn't a tick-box exercise. It identifies issues early, supports affected employees and gives the business genuine, actionable insight about workplace risk.