Occupational Health Service

Skin checks for health surveillance may be required if:

• It has been identified on the role's job hazard identification form, that you may use substances that are covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002.
• It has been identified, as a result of COSHH assessments that have been carried out, that you are exposed to substances that are irritants or sensitisers, etc.
• Within your role you are frequently required to wash your hands and/or wear gloves.
• You have noticed skin problems.

The manager/responsible person in each relevant department will be responsible for ensuring their staff members complete the skin health surveillance online form.

A risk assessment or COSHH assessment will highlight the requirement for spirometry for staff exposed to dusts, fumes and other airborne contaminants. This also applies to staff who work in the animal laboratories. Where concerns are raised, the faculty may wish to arrange for environmental air monitoring to be carried out to ensure that safe working levels are not breached.

In the event of an incident, such as air monitoring recording a breach of safe working limits, managers should refer potentially impacted staff members to Cordell Health for health surveillance via the process stated above.

In situations where staff members are referred to Cordell Health, a review of risk assessments in place for the activity must be completed to highlight the potential need to implement further controls such as PPE or LEVs.

If a risk assessment indicates there is a risk to health of employees due to exposure to excessive noise levels, the University must ensure that such employees are placed under suitable health surveillance , which may include the testing of their hearing (audiometry). 

Following a risk assessment, a noise survey of the working area will be undertaken to verify the risk. If you require a noise survey, please contact Health, Safety and Compliance on ext. 3075 or email hsservicedesk@port.ac.uk.

Should the noise survey find that staff are regularly exposed to noise levels above the Upper Exposure Action Value (85dB), or where staff are deemed to be at increased risk are exposed to levels above the Lower Exposure Action Value (80dB), a referral should be made to Cordell Health.

If known or suspected asbestos containing materials are found to be damaged/deteriorated, including laboratory equipment containing asbestos, the first step will be to follow the emergency asbestos procedures, found within the Asbestos Management Plan.

Asbestos air monitoring is carried out where it is considered necessary to determine whether fibres have been released and provide documented evidence. Reassurance air monitoring is also often carried out at the discretion of the Asbestos Responsible Person as a reassurance precaution.

If there are concerns that a member of staff has been potentially exposed to asbestos, Health, Safety and Compliance must be contacted immediately through the completion of a HS1 form. An Occupational Health (Cordell Health) referral should then be completed by their Line Manager.

If a risk assessment indicates there is a risk that employees may be exposed to hand-arm vibration (HAV) or whole body vibration (WBV) at or above the exposure limit value of 5m/s² on any single day, the line manager/responsible person should refer the staff members to Cordell Health for health surveillance.

Health surveillance for ionising radiation applies to 'classified workers' only. Classified workers are those exposed to:

• An effective dose greater than 6mSv per year
• An equivalent dose greater than 15mSv per year for the lens of the eye
• A dose greater than 15mSv per year for the skin or extremities (hands, forearms, feet or ankles)

Staff members at risk of exposure to the above levels of ionising radiation should be referred to Cordell Health by their line managers for further advice and observation.

Ergonomic risk factors are workplace situations that cause wear and tear on the body and can cause injury. These include repetition, awkward posture, forceful motion, stationary position, direct pressure, vibration, extreme temperature, noise and work stress.

Where an incident or report of ill health relating to musculoskeletal disorders is received, line managers should refer staff to Cordell Health for further advice and monitoring. This may also be triggered if a DSE assessment highlights concerns over a workstation set up causing occupational ill health.

If a member of University staff has concerns about potential exposure to lead, Health, Safety and Compliance should be contacted through the completion of a HS1 form. An Occupational Health referral should then be completed by their line manager for consultation, baseline assessment and further monitoring.