Legal Framework
Understand the legal duties and workplace circumstances in which health surveillance may be required.
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Course Preview
Watch the Sample Video
Watch the introductory video to learn how this programme approaches health surveillance, workplace health promotion, early intervention, and occupational disease prevention.
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Introduction
Course Overview
Prevention remains one of the most important objectives of Occupational Health practice. While clinical assessment and fitness-for-work decision making are essential components of Occupational Medicine, protecting workers from developing occupational disease is equally important.
Effective health surveillance programmes, workplace health promotion initiatives, and early-intervention strategies help identify adverse health effects at an early stage, reduce the burden of occupational disease, and support a healthier and more productive workforce.
This comprehensive 30 CPD hour course provides a practical and evidence-based approach to health surveillance, health promotion, and illness prevention in the workplace.
Designed for Occupational Health physicians, nurses, technicians, and MFOM candidates, the course explores the principles, practice, and implementation of workplace health monitoring programmes across a wide range of industries and occupational exposures.
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Core Framework
Principles of Health Surveillance
Risk Assessment
Use workplace risk information to determine whether a surveillance programme is appropriate and proportionate.
Programme Design
Select suitable methods, frequencies, clinical pathways, and quality controls for effective surveillance.
Record Keeping
Understand health records, clinical records, retention, confidentiality, and appropriate information governance.
Result Interpretation
Identify significant findings, trends, deterioration, and possible early signs of occupational disease.
Referral Pathways
Determine when further assessment, workplace intervention, specialist referral, or exposure review is required.
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Programme Delivery
The Health Surveillance Process
Identify the Workplace Risk
Review hazardous exposures, job tasks, control measures, worker groups, and potential adverse health effects.
Select the Surveillance Method
Choose appropriate questionnaires, clinical assessments, screening tests, measurements, and referral criteria.
Establish a Baseline
Record initial health status and measurements before or early in relevant workplace exposure.
Monitor Over Time
Repeat surveillance at suitable intervals and compare findings with previous results and expected standards.
Take Appropriate Action
Investigate abnormal results, refer when required, review exposure controls, and recommend workplace intervention.
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Clinical Programmes
Health Surveillance Programmes Covered
Vision Screening
Understand occupational visual standards, screening methods, test limitations, referral criteria, and workplace relevance.
Skin Surveillance
Recognise occupational dermatitis, identify skin hazards, monitor symptoms, and support early workplace intervention.
Respiratory Surveillance
Assess respiratory symptoms, exposure history, lung function, spirometry findings, and occupational respiratory risk.
Hearing Surveillance
Understand audiometry, hearing thresholds, significant changes, categorisation, quality assurance, and referral.
HAVS Surveillance
Identify neurological and vascular symptoms associated with hand-transmitted vibration and support staged assessment.
Exposure-Based Surveillance
Link surveillance methods to specific workplace hazards, exposure profiles, legal duties, and control programmes.
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Surveillance Programme
Vision Screening and Visual Standards
Learners will develop a practical understanding of vision screening within Occupational Health and how visual capability may relate to specific job demands and safety requirements.
The programme covers test selection, visual acuity, colour vision, near and distance vision, limitations of screening methods, occupational visual standards, and appropriate referral pathways.
✓ Distance Visual Acuity
✓ Near Vision
✓ Colour Vision
✓ Occupational Visual Standards
✓ Test Limitations
✓ Referral Criteria
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Surveillance Programme
Occupational Skin Surveillance
Occupational skin disease is common in workers exposed to wet work, irritants, sensitising substances, chemicals, gloves, oils, cleaning products, and biological agents.
This section explains how to identify early skin symptoms, conduct structured surveillance, recognise occupational dermatoses, document findings, advise on skin care, and recommend suitable workplace intervention.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
Recognise common patterns associated with repeated contact with water, detergents, chemicals, and workplace substances.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Understand sensitisation, relevant exposures, clinical assessment, and the role of specialist investigation.
Skin Protection
Support effective exposure controls, glove selection, skin care, worker education, and early symptom reporting.
Clinical Referral
Identify findings that require further Occupational Health, dermatology, or workplace hygiene investigation.
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Surveillance Programme
Respiratory Surveillance and Spirometry
Learners will gain practical knowledge of respiratory health surveillance for workers exposed to respiratory sensitisers, dusts, fumes, gases, vapours, and other inhaled hazards.
The course explains symptom questionnaires, exposure history, spirometry methodology, quality standards, interpretation, limitations, serial comparison, and appropriate clinical follow-up.
Indications
Determine when respiratory surveillance is required based on exposure and potential health effects.
Spirometry Quality
Understand worker preparation, technique, acceptability, repeatability, calibration, and quality assurance.
Result Interpretation
Identify patterns, significant change, technical limitations, and findings requiring further assessment.
Workplace Action
Use surveillance findings to support exposure review, referral, control improvement, and worker protection.
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Surveillance Programme
Hearing Surveillance and Audiometry
This section provides a practical framework for delivering hearing surveillance to workers exposed to occupational noise and other potential risks to hearing.
Learners will explore baseline testing, periodic audiometry, hearing thresholds, result categorisation, significant change, test reliability, referral pathways, hearing protection, and workplace noise-control measures.
✓ Baseline Audiometry
✓ Periodic Testing
✓ Hearing Thresholds
✓ Significant Threshold Change
✓ Result Categorisation
✓ Clinical Referral
✓ Hearing Protection
✓ Workplace Noise Control
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Surveillance Programme
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome Surveillance
The course explains the principles of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome surveillance for workers using vibrating tools, machinery, and equipment.
Learners will study symptom recognition, vascular and neurological features, staged surveillance, clinical assessment, exposure review, functional impact, referral, and appropriate workplace recommendations.
Exposure History
Review tools, vibration exposure, duration, work patterns, control measures, and previous symptoms.
Vascular Symptoms
Recognise episodic finger blanching, cold sensitivity, and symptoms associated with vibration exposure.
Neurological Symptoms
Assess numbness, tingling, sensory change, reduced dexterity, and functional limitation.
Workplace Recommendations
Recommend exposure reduction, control review, referral, restrictions, or further clinical assessment.
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Workplace Wellbeing
Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In addition to health surveillance, the course explores wider workplace prevention strategies and the role of Occupational Health services in supporting long-term workforce wellbeing.
Participants will learn how workplace programmes can support behavioural change, reduce health risks, improve resilience, and help prevent occupational and non-occupational illness.
Smoking Cessation
Support evidence-based workplace smoking reduction programmes.
Cardiovascular Health
Promote risk awareness, screening, activity, and prevention.
Vaccination
Understand workplace immunisation and exposure prevention.
Musculoskeletal Health
Promote movement, ergonomics, early reporting, and rehabilitation.
Mental Wellbeing
Support psychologically healthy workplaces and early intervention.
Workforce Resilience
Improve health literacy, coping, participation, and long-term wellbeing.
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Workplace Intervention
Turning Surveillance Findings into Action
A strong emphasis is placed on translating surveillance findings into meaningful workplace action.
Learners will develop the skills required to identify early signs of occupational disease, recommend appropriate workplace interventions, support exposure-control measures, and work collaboratively with employers to reduce health risks.
Surveillance should not operate as an isolated screening exercise. Its findings should contribute to risk assessment, exposure control, worker education, clinical referral, programme evaluation, and prevention.
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Identify Early Change
Recognise significant symptoms, measurements, and trends.
02
Protect the Worker
Arrange review, referral, advice, or temporary intervention.
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Review Exposure
Assess hazards, controls, work processes, and affected groups.
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Improve Prevention
Strengthen controls, education, surveillance, and follow-up.
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Knowledge Assessment
Tests and Mock Examination
Single Best Answer Questions
Test theoretical knowledge and practical application across the health surveillance syllabus.
Knowledge Assessments
Practise answering questions under structured and timed examination conditions.
Full Mock Examination
Complete a comprehensive mock assessment designed to support professional examination preparation.
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Course Outcomes
By the End of This Course
01
Understand the principles, objectives, and legal framework governing workplace health surveillance.
02
Design and deliver suitable surveillance programmes based on workplace risk and occupational exposure.
03
Interpret vision, skin, respiratory, hearing, and HAVS surveillance findings appropriately.
04
Recognise early signs of occupational disease and recommend appropriate referral and workplace intervention.
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Develop workplace health-promotion strategies that support wellbeing, resilience, and illness prevention.
SA
Course Instructor
Dr Syed Ahmed
Learn with an academic author and experienced Occupational Health Physician practising in the United Kingdom.