Health Screening for individuals identified by local risk assessment What is Health Assessment / Screening? Health assessment / screening is a way if identifying apparently healthy people who may have increased health risk in a particular set of circumstances. It is used to prevent and reduce work related health issues with focus on establishing an employee’s health status and thereby suitability for a particular role prior to engagement with a particular task or exposure to a hazard. It can be an effective way of raising awareness, increasing employee morale and reducing sickness absence levels. It is proactive and preventative and should be evidence-based, determined by standards required of the job being considered or undertaken. Health screening is considered ‘good practice’ and an effective way to promote positive lifestyle changes. How is this different to health surveillance? Health assessment/screening is not a legal requirement whereas Health Surveillance is a statutory legal requirement described as a system of ongoing health checks. These health checks may be required by law for employees who are exposed to noise or vibration, ionising radiation, solvents, fumes, dusts, biological agents and other substances hazardous to health. Health Surveillance and Safety Critical Medicals | The University of Edinburgh COSHH | The University of Edinburgh Why is Health Screening important? It encourages preventative action It decreases absenteeism It gives you an understanding of your exposure to future health risks It helps to increase staff morale It provides employees with clear information about their health It raises health awareness in the workplace Type of Health Screening currently undertaken at OHS Night Workers Vet Students Parking Health Assessment Other screening can be undertaken base in relation to workplace health and wellbeing needs. Please contact OHS to discuss your department needs. Occupational Health Service Health and Safety Department The University of Edinburgh Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 650 8190 Email: Occupational.Health@ed.ac.uk This article was published on 2024-07-22
