1. This code should be read by: All STFC staff, tenants who are responsible for staff or others whose work exposes them to hazards for which an assessment of health is required. Typical hazards for which health assessment should be considered include: chemicals; biological agents; climbing; FLT/crane driving; strong electro magnetic fields (RF); high altitude working; ionising radiation; lasers; noise; underground working or vibrating machinery. And all staff, tenants, visitors, facility users and contractors whose work exposes them to these hazards.

2. Introduction to: SHE Code 24 ‘Occupational Health Surveillance and Health Screening Medicals’ Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Group

3. Why a Health Surveillance Code? Absence form work arising from occupational ill health or disease far exceeds that from injuries. “34 million [working] days were lost overall (1.4 days per worker), 28 million due to work-related ill health and 6 million due to workplace injury” Source: Health and Safety Executive, 2007/08 Health screening medicals assessing an individuals suitability to undertake a specific task or work with a hazard, and their on-going health surveillance or monitoring to identify early signs of occupational ill health are set out in legislation, including: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002; Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR) 1999; Noise at Work Regulations 2005

4. Read the part of the code that applies to you. Managers should be aware of hazards in their areas of responsibility, in particular chemical hazards and as appropriate reporting the need for health surveillance to Local Occupational Health Advisors: –Appendix 1 summarises typical hazards for which health surveillance and medicals are required and outlines their frequency. –The need for chemical health assessment will be detailed in the chemical’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). All instances of actual or suspected occupational ill health or disease should be reported to SHE Group. Key points

5. Direct to local your Occupational Health Advisors: Kathy White, DL 3234 Martin Jones, RAL, 6666 SHE Advisors: Graeme Finlan, DL, 3147, RAL, 6249 Mark Roberts, DL, 3283 Matt Dickson, RAL, 5329 Rose Russell, SO, 2061 Linda Fisher, ROE, 413 Or your Departmental Safety Contact. Further questions

6. See “What’s new” at the SHE website Occupational ill health accounts for 4 times the absence of Occupational Injuries! Who’s responsible for your Health at work? STFC SHE Code “Occupational Health Surveillance and Health Screening Medicals”