Health Surveillance: Your Legal Duty as an Employer in the UK

If your employees face specific risks at work, you’re legally required to put Health Surveillance in place. It’s not optional. It’s a clear obligation under UK law—and it’s your responsibility to make sure it happens.

What Is Health Surveillance?

Health Surveillance involves regular health checks to spot early signs of work-related ill health. You must introduce it when employees are exposed to known risks that can’t be eliminated. Common examples include:

• Noise from machinery or power tools
• Vibration from handheld equipment
• Dust, fumes or chemicals covered by COSHH
• Biological hazards
• Compressed air or diving operations

These aren’t general health screenings. They’re targeted checks like audiometry (hearing tests), spirometry (lung function tests), skin checks, and HAVS assessments, all designed to detect harm early—before it leads to permanent damage.

What the Law Requires

Several UK laws set out your duties clearly:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 obliges you to protect employee health.
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require you to assess risks and take action.
• Regulations such as COSHH, the Noise at Work Regulations, and the Vibration at Work Regulations specify when Health Surveillance becomes mandatory.

If your risk assessment identifies exposure to any of these hazards, you must act.

Here’s what that involves:

• Carry out a risk assessment to identify any hazards to health.
• Arrange appropriate health checks where risks remain.
• Use qualified occupational health professionals to carry out the assessments.
• Keep proper records, often for up to 40 years.
• Act on the results—that could mean adjusting roles or making medical referrals.

So, failing to meet these duties can lead to serious consequences, including HSE enforcement, fines or prosecution.

Why You Should Act Now

Meeting your legal duty isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about running a responsible, efficient business. Health Surveillance helps you:

• Protect your workers from long-term harm
• Spot health problems early, before they become serious
• Improve attendance and productivity
• Avoid costly claims and reputational damage

Drayton Medical Services Makes It Easy

We provide the full range of Health Surveillance services to keep your business compliant and your team protected. Our services include:

• Hearing tests
• Lung function tests
• Skin surveillance
• HAVS assessments (Tiers 1–4)
• Safety Critical Medicals

We’ll help you put a legally compliant programme in place—and keep it running smoothly. As a result, your workforce will be healthy, productive and compliant.

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Not sure where to start?
Send us your current risk assessment or give us a call. We’ll advise on what you need, what the law expects, and how we can help.

📞 02392 310151
🌐 www.draytonmedicalservices.co.uk