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Health Surveillance for Small Businesses: Why You Can’t Afford to Ignore It
One of the most common questions that we get is “what is health surveillance, and do I need to do it?”
Health surveillance is a term that is used to describe a system of regular health checks used to detect the early signs of work-related ill health among employees exposed to certain health risks. UK health and safety law requires workplace health surveillance when it comes to exposure to physical hazards, including (but not limited to): asbestos, loud noise and/or vibration, ionising radiation, solvents, and fumes.
That said, the main frustrations for organisations establishing a health and safety system, particularly for the owners of small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) tends to be cost; time restrictions and lack of skill or knowledge.
For small businesses, the challenge is often not willingness, but time, budget, or uncertainty around what is actually required. Many small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) haven’t yet implemented a health surveillance programme for these reasons, or assume it is only something larger organisations need to think about. In reality, the legal duty depends on the risks present in the workplace, not the size of the company.
To any SME owner or sole trader, we ask the following question:
Can Small Businesses Afford Not to Implement Health Surveillance?
For small businesses in particular, it can be tempting to view health surveillance as an extra cost that will take a large chunk out of their operating budget. But in reality, the failure to assess workplace hazards can be far more expensive over time.
Just as you would never neglect to properly train your employees, or wouldn’t skimp on the materials that you use in your business, you should not disregard the importance of a healthy workplace on your bottom line.
Why Health Surveillance Matters for Small Businesses
Many employers focus all of their time and effort on ensuring that their workplace is a safe one; removing hazards that could cause accidents and preventing injuries. While this is important, it ignores the other integral aspect of Health & Safety Legislation – a healthy workplace.
Health surveillance assesses the effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE) and is another element that helps to make sure that the workplace is free from anything that can cause detriment to mental or physical health, both in the immediate future and the long term.
For small businesses, health surveillance can help assess whether control measures, including personal protective equipment (PPE), are working effectively and whether employees are being protected from hazards that could affect their health over time.
How Health Surveillance Supports a Healthier and More Productive Workplace
A health surveillance programme can help identify problems early, before they develop into more serious health issues or longer periods of absence. It can also highlight whether workplace hazards are being properly controlled, giving employers the chance to make changes sooner rather than later.
Ensuring that your employees have a safe and healthy workplace in which to carry out their daily duties is your responsibility, but it can also have excellent benefits for your business’s productivity.
Time and time again, studies have shown that a healthy workplace has a dramatic effect on profits – take advantage of this correlation and you will see increased success. A healthier workplace can support better attendance, improved morale, and fewer disruptions caused by work-related ill health.
A health surveillance programme can highlight hazards in your workplace that are not properly being controlled and can recommend effective strategies that can help you to reduce these risks.
When Is Health Surveillance a Legal Requirement?
If you are not motivated by the benefits of implementing a health surveillance program, perhaps you should consider the repercussions of neglecting to pay attention to this issue. Recent case studies have profiled SMEs who have neglected the government’s HSE guidance and felt the full weight of monetary punishment – here is a case study of a Gloucester-based firm that ignored the cause of an employee’s asthma and were fined 100,000 pounds (page 11).
Health surveillance is a legal requirement where employees are exposed to certain workplace hazards and there is a reasonable likelihood that work-related ill health could occur. This may include exposure to noise, vibration, fumes, dust, solvents, or other hazardous substances, depending on the nature of the work.
For SMEs, this means health surveillance should be considered as part of the wider risk assessment process. If risks are identified, employers may need to put appropriate health checks in place and keep records to demonstrate that employee health is being monitored properly. Failing to do so can lead to enforcement action, particularly where signs of work-related ill health are missed or ignored.
How Small Businesses Can Take a Practical Approach to Health Surveillance
The only way that you as an employer can avoid the hefty penalties and fines that can result from neglecting HSE laws and guidance, is by implementing a health surveillance program and taking the steps necessary to mitigate the wellness and safety risks present in your workplace.
Small businesses often need a practical, proportionate approach to health surveillance. That means understanding which risks in the workplace actually require monitoring, what type of checks are appropriate, and how often they should be carried out.
At Staywell Occupational Health, we support businesses across the UK with health surveillance programmes tailored to their workplace risks. Whether you are setting up health surveillance for the first time or reviewing your current approach, our team can help you identify the right checks for your workplace and put them in place.
Get in touch with us today for more information.
Call or email us today for more information – you can’t afford not to.
