The People Maintenance Specialists

EVERWELL OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Contact: enquiries@everwelloh.co.uk

Night Workers Health Surveillance

 

Under the Working Time Directive, an employer has to offer all employees that work nights a pre-employment and regular health assessment.  

 

Typically Everwell will assess employees health  and suitably to work nights in a two stage approach. 

 

1. A paper based assessment: Everwell will review a questionnaire completed by the individual.  This is looking for a history of certain conditions  (see below) and/or related symptoms.  Anybody identified to be “at risk” will be referred to the next stage.

 

2. A physical review:  Anybody identified as “at risk” will be reviewed on-site by an Occupational Health Medical Professional and the issue highlighted on the questionnaire investigated further.  A report with an action plan or recommendation will be produced for each person.

 

Note: Some employers do opt for a physical review for all their Night Shift Workers.  This does provide the most comprehensive approach and possibly allows the medical professional to identify things at an early stage (i.e. Urinalysis can pick up undiagnosed diabetes)

 

The conditions typically looked for are:

 

· Diabetes

· Epilepsy

· Heart Trouble

· Pulmonary Disorders (Asthma)

· Intestinal Problems

· Kidney Disease

· Mental Illness

· Chronic Sleep Disorders / Problems

· Joint, Back and Neck Problems.

 

Just because somebody may be suffering from any one (or more) of the above, it does not automatically mean they are unsuitable for night working.  The important aspect of this process is to identify the risk factors and manage them effectively so that the employee's health or other peoples' safety remain unaffected.

 

Note: Anybody working regularly for three or more hours between the hours of 11.00pm and 6.00am is usually considered a Night Worker.