HEALTH

HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
SURVEILLANCE

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 Today's menu
• Defining terms
• Legal aspects
• What is health screening
• Components of health surveillance
• Examples
• Plenary Discussion and winding up

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Defining OHS
Is abroad discipline of medicine
aiming at maintaining social,
physical and mental wellbeing
of workers at their
respective occupations

(Encyclopaedia of OHS)
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Why do health
surveillance
Workplaces are full of hazards

Risk of being exposed to such hazards vary from

one workplace to another

There is need to Protecting workers from risks

resulting from adverse workplace
factors/hazards

We need to maintain a healthy work environment

and Prevent departure from good health
towards ill health while at work

For Promotion and maintaining highest degree

of fitness among workers
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 Legal aspects
• According to OHS ACT no 5 (2003)
• Part 1V safety provisions
section 24 ( 1-4) pg 25
1. Periodic, med exam for fitness to work to
be done by qualified occupational physician
2. Exit medial examination
3. All costs related to med exams to be paid
by employer
4. Confidentiality of the findings of med exam

OSHA 5
(The OHS ACT no 5 of 2003)
 Legal aspects
• AccordingT0 OHS ACT no 5 of (2003)
• Part VI safety special provisions
section 60 ( a-b)
(A) Risk assessment to be done annually
and any time deemed necessary

(B) Evidence of the risk assessment to be

furnished

OSHA 6
(The OHS ACT no 5 of 2003)
 Legal aspects
• According to OHS ACT no 5 of (2003)
• Part VII (hazardous material& processes)
section 72 ( a-b)
Medical examination may also be ordered by
the minister if there are
(A) Cases of illnesses that may be due to
nature/processes

(B) Risk of injury to the health of workers

OSHA 7
(The OHS ACT no 5 of 2003)
 Health screening

• All kinds of mandatory medical

examinations a worker need to
undertake in the course of
employment

OSHA 8
Components of Health
screening
Pre employment medical examination

Periodic/annual medical examinations

Pre placement medical examinations

Special medical checkup( e.g post exposure

Exit medical examination

OSHA 9
 Workplace health
surveillance
• Much broader than health
screening including all
aspects of workers health in
relation to their work
environment
• Involves examining both he
worker and the workplace
1. The source
2. The route
3. The passenger
Source: BOHS booklet (WHO/ILO)
OSHA 10
 Components of
workplace Health surveillance (1)
Walkthrough
surveillances using to
identify risk
procedures etc

Workplace
measurements to
determine levels of
exposure to identified
hazards

OSHA 11
 Components of
workplace Health surveillance (2)
Health screening of to determine the
presence of any occupational health
problems among workers

Workers personal measurements

including biological monitoring to
identify occupational diseases

Reviewing workers sickness

absenteeism record,

OSHA 12
 Benefits of workplace
h/surveillance
• Improvement in workers health
• Safe work environment for everyone and
the environment
• High working morale among workers
• Increased productivity to the company
• Compliance to OHS laws and conventions
• Good company reputation
• Less expenditure through Medicare,
rehabilitation and workman compensation
OSHA 13