Night Workers

Guidance for night workers in the University including health assessments.

A night worker is defined by the “The Working Time Regulations 1998 (as amended)” as someone who works:

“The period between 11pm and 6am, though employers and workers can choose a different period. If they do, it must be at least seven hours long and include the period from midnight to 5am.  A night worker is someone who normally works at least three hours at night:

• on most days worked

• on a proportion of the day’s work which is specified in a collective or workforce agreement

• often enough for it to be said that such hours are worked 'as a normal course'. 


To ensure night workers are fit for night work, employers must offer a free health assessment to anyone who is about to start working nights and to all night workers on a regular basis – usually annually.

Employees do not have to take the opportunity to have a health assessment, but the employer must offer it. 


The night workers health assessment comprises of a questionnaire of general health questions and if required a medical health assessment which may include measurement of height, weight, blood pressure and urine check. 


The assessment, which will be processed in the strictest confidence, has been designed to identify possible areas of health need in relation to night work and provide a basis for further detailed assessment. Where necessary, a member of the Occupational Health Team will undertake this with the individual at a face-to-face appointment and offer any health advice. Referral for further medical advice may also be appropriate in some cases, but this will always be with your consent. Following an assessment, a notification of your fitness for night work will be issued to the individual, their line manager and local Health and Safety Contact. 

If you meet the definition of a night worker, you should be offered annual health assessments via your manager. Your manager should make you aware that you are entitled to this and they should present you to Occupational Health.  


Once OHS are notified by the manager of their night worker staff, OHS will arrange for a questionnaire to be sent directly to those individuals. The questionnaire should be completed in full with as much detail as possible and returned directly to OHS directly (without copy for management) to  occupational.health@ed.ac.uk

If you wish to have a face-to-face appointment with a member of the Occupational Health Team, you should mark this in the relevant box on the questionnaire. 


Yes. Personal information is treated in medical confidence, and not passed on unless consent is given. The exception to this is if information is passed on which is considered to pose a significant risk to health and safety to the individual or others.

None of the information disclosed can be shared without written consent, however, generalised advice may be given to your manager on your fitness to continue night work.


Yes, but in the first instance we would advise that you try and discuss, and resolve, the issue with your line manager. However if you feel your health is being affected by work you can self- refer to  the OHS and someone will contact you directly.  


“The Working Time Regulations 1998 (as amended)” lay down the legal requirements on how to organise working time.

Health and Safety Executive FAQs on the Working Time Regulations  


Occupational Health Service

Health and Safety Department

The University of Edinburgh

Contact details

Address

Drummond Street Annexe
Drummond Street
Edinburgh
EH8 9XP

This article was published on