Page 250 - IGC BOOK

vaccination might not be available.

Health Surveillance and Biological Monitoring

Health Surveillance

The objectives of health surveillance is to identify where workers are exposed to substances
hazardous to health in the course of their work are:

• The protection of the health of individual workers by detection as soon as possible of any
adverse changes which may be attributed to exposure to substances hazardous to health.
• To assist in the evaluation of measures taken to control exposure.
• The collection, maintenance and use of data for the detection and evaluation of hazards to
health.
• To assess, in relation to specific work activities involving micro-organisms hazardous to
health, the immunological status of workers.

Thus, the purpose of routine health surveillance is to identify, at as early a stage as possible,
any variations in the health of workers which may be related to working conditions.

Where hazards are low and the likelihood of occupational disease remote there may be no
necessity for a system of regular health checks. Nevertheless, it is recommended that basic
personal records should be kept for all workers, including a historical record of jobs
performed, details of periods of exposure to harmful agents, absence due to sickness or
injury, and cause or duration of absence. Where hazards are low but there is known to be the
possibility of occupational disease leading to easily recognisable symptoms, self-checks may
be acceptable.

For medium range hazards checks by a responsible person, such as a supervisor, first-aider
or nurse, may be required.

Where there appears to be a higher level of risk, an assessment of the level of surveillance
required should be made with the assistance of an occupational physician. These “higher-
level” checks may include:

• Biological effect monitoring – the measurement and assessment of early biological effects
in exposed workers (see below).
• Medical surveillance – clinical examinations and measurements of physiological and
psychological effects of exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace, as indicated
by any symptoms.
• Enquiries about symptoms – inspection or examination by a suitably qualified person.
• Review of records and occupational history during and after exposure, to check

ENSIGN| Unit IG2 – Element 7 – Chemical and Biological 45
Agents