Implementation of health surveillance
Health surveillance is a
requirement under the Control of Vibration at Work
Regulations (2005) for all employees who are exposed above a certain level,
known as the Exposure Action Value (EAV).
It is also required for employees who are exposed to lower levels of vibration than the EAV but are known to be at an
increased risk of vibration related health problems (e.g. because they have
certain pre-existing health conditions).
Health surveillance is aimed at identifying employees with particular
health problems which can be associated
with vibration, namely Hand Arm Vibration
Syndrome (formerly known as Vibration White Finger) and Carpal Tunnel syndrome.
Introduction of health
surveillance at the university has focussed on Facilities Management, as they
have the most staff exposed or potentially exposed to moderately high levels of
vibration at work. They are also well
advanced in risk assessment, and it is important that health surveillance is
carried out when risk assessment identifies the need for it rather than on an ad hoc basis.
Initial assessment has been
carried out for all FM staff who are exposed to vibration, even if this is at
relatively low levels, in order to identify staff who may be particularly
vulnerable to the effects of vibration.
Initial assessment will also be carried out for all new employees whose
job requires use of vibrating tools.
Health surveillance will be
repeated annually for the following:-
·
Those who have
been identified as having a vibration related health condition
·
Those who have
been identified as being at an increased
risk of a vibration related health condition
·
Those who are
exposed to vibration close to or above the Exposure Action Value (this is
likely to apply mostly to Grounds and Gardens staff and a small number of
maintenance staff such as some joiners).
Health assessment of FM
maintenance staff is almost complete; to date:-
65 staff have been assessed
(mostly by an initial questionnaire)
22 of these have been seen
face to face by the OH adviser
16 of these have been seen by
the OH physician.
As a result, 7 cases of
vibration related ill health have been reported to the Health and Safety
Executive under RIDDOR (4 in 2008, 3 prior to this).
In all cases, the health
condition identified is believed to relate to vibration exposure prior
to employment at
Training on the risks from
vibrating tools and on the measures needed to control these risks has been
given to FM employees and supervisors/managers by the FM Health and Safety
Manager.0000000
The next stage of
implementation will be to support risk assessment for vibration hazards in
imago and in academic departments. Any
necessary training and health surveillance can then be carried out where a need
is identified by this process.
Wendy Jones
Occupational Health Adviser
February 2009