HSE – Appointed Doctor for Lead

The HSE has issued  guidance about review under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW)  (please see below) on 18/06/2020.
      
If periodic medical surveillance under CLAW is required remotely, please return the completed questionnaire below to helen@brydenmedical.com .
Thank you.

‘Health and medical surveillance and safety critical medicals 

Guidance for occupational health providers, appointed doctors and employers during the coronavirus outbreak

In the light of advice from Public Health England (PHE) on COVID-19, HSE issued guidance on 20 March 2020, setting out a proportionate and flexible approach to enable health and medical surveillance to continue. This advice updates that guidance. It continues to balance the need to protect the health, safety and welfare of workers and the current constraints presented by the coronavirus outbreak. HSE will continue to review this guidance as appropriate (last updated 18 June 2020).

This guidance outlines a framework for how you can conduct health/medical surveillance and safety critical medicals remotely. It does not prevent you from carrying out face to face medical assessments where you have carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and put in place appropriate controls, taking into account PHE advice on coronavirus. 

Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW)

The appointed doctor should obtain blood lead levels at a frequency set out in the ACOP and guidance.

For periodic medical surveillance under CLAW, appointed doctors can carry out medical assessments by telephone consultation. If there are no problems, they can defer the full assessment for up to 6 months. If there are problems, they can decide if a face to face examination is justified. If it is, they should make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and put in place appropriate controls, taking into account PHE advice regarding coronavirus.

For those workers who previously had no problems and, on that basis, had a full assessment deferred for 3 months in accordance with HSE guidance issued on 20 March 2020, the appointed doctor can further defer the full assessment for up to 3 months without reviewing the worker again. If the worker has not been exposed to lead for several weeks (for example they have not been in work), the appointed doctor should obtain their blood lead level within 4-6 weeks of resuming work with lead.

For initial assessment of new workers, the appointed doctor can follow the guidance for periodic medical surveillance and obtain baseline blood lead and haemoglobin levels. They should do this before the individual starts work for the first time with lead, and in any event not later than 14 days after first exposure. If there are no problems, they can defer a full assessment for up to 6 months.’

Telephone Assessment Questionnaire for Periodic Medical.

Name__________________________________     Date of Birth______________

Address___________________________________________________________

Contact details Phone ______________________Email ____________________

Job Title____________________________________________________________

Employer’s name:____________________________________________________

How long have you worked with lead?    _________________________________

What was your last blood lead measurement?      _________________________

Do you have or have you had previously:

Symptoms of anaemia or tiredness?                                                                                 Yes      No

Nerve damage or neurological problems?                                                                       Yes      No

Kidney problems or high blood pressure?                                                                        Yes      No

Cancer                                                                                                                                       Yes      No

Infertility?                                                                                                                                Yes      No

Headaches?                                                                                                                              Yes      No

Irritability or mental health issues?                                                                                    Yes      No

Constipation, nausea, stomach pains or loss of weight?                                                Yes      No

Any other health issues?                                                                                                       Yes      No

Do you smoke?                                                                                                                        Yes      No

Further information about your health?

 

 

 

 

 

Also an unborn child is at particular risk from exposure to lead, especially in the early weeks before a pregnancy becomes known.

To the best of my knowledge, the information which I have given is correct and I give my consent to this medical assessment, which is for the purpose of health surveillance under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations. I authorize the release of medical information from this assessment to my G.P. if necessary.  I understand that confidential information about health and medical history will be confidentially treated, processed and stored in a secure environment by Bryden Medical Limited and will only be accessed and processed by those staff that have explicit and reasonable need to do so, with due consideration for Data Protection (GDPR 2018).

 

Signed: ____________________________

 

Print Name: _____________________________ Date: __________________        

Please email completed forms and any questions to Dr Helen Bryden at helen@brydenmedical.com         Thank you.