Health Surveillance for Occupational Health professionals and businesses
Editor’s note:
The guidance in this document was written prior to the publication of the Sir Charlie Mayfield report,
Keep Britain Working. Readers are advised to consult the latest statutory requirements and the official
Workplace Health & Employment Study (MYHES) report.
In summary, HSE requires health surveillance to focus on statutory requirements by monitoring workers
exposed to hazards such as noise, vibration, respiratory sensitisers, chemicals and skin irritants. These
assessments must be clinically robust, risk-based, and aligned with current regulatory standards.
Alongside statutory surveillance, the Keep Britain Working report recommends incorporating wellbeing
touchpoints into existing appointments, using short, validated screening tools covering fatigue, mental
health, musculoskeletal discomfort, and lifestyle factors. These additions should complement rather than
replace hazard-based assessments and must include clear escalation routes to appropriate clinical or
wellbeing support services.
Surveillance processes should also extend beyond individual assessments by providing structured
signposting to support services, such as physiotherapy, mental health services, workplace adjustments,
and lifestyle interventions. This approach improves early intervention while ensuring the core purpose of
surveillance – identifying work-related harm – remains the focus.
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