HAVS remote health surveillance survey

The SIG wants to gather information about how HAVS surveillance is being carried out and collate the information anonymously. It is important to reflect current practice and any changes you envisage.

Background to survey

Following an invitation to attend the HAVS SIG to discuss remote health surveillance for HAVS, the HSE have set out their position on HAVS remote surveillance:

• During the Covid pandemic, certain aspects of health surveillance could be performed remotely and HSE issued specific guidance which allowed deferral of some face-to-face medicals for health surveillance, subject to a satisfactory remote assessment. In July 2021, HSE issued further guidance to occupational health providers stating that from the 1 September 2021, all practitioners should have returned to in-person assessments for health surveillance. This includes health surveillance performed for vibration exposed workers.

• Therefore, since September 2021 the HSE position has been that where a clinical assessment is required for health surveillance, such as that for HAV exposed workers, it should be conducted face to face in person, and not remotely or virtually. For the sake of clarity, this includes Tier 4 HAV health surveillance, with a relevant clinical examination being performed by the occupational physician themselves.

After receipt of the above statement the SIG reflected that there was still a degree of remote health surveillance for HAVS ongoing and felt a survey of current practice would help inform a response to the HSE's statement above.
Respondent details:
1.What is your background?
2.Who do you work for?
3.How many years of experience of undertaking HAVS surveillance do you have?
4.Do you have a higher qualification in OH?
5.What is your highest qualification in OH?
6.Have you successfully completed FOM approved training in HAVS?
7.Have you undertaken refresher training in HAVS within the last 3 years?
Current HAVS surveillance
8.Are you currently carrying out HAVS surveillance (ie within last 3 months)?
9.Does this include Tier 3, Tier 4, a combination of both.
10.Do you carry out... (select one of three)
11.Are technicians involved at any stage.
12.If yes to (11) do you rely on technician / other health professional assessment of (select each that applies)
Surveillance numbers
In last twelve months...
13.How many paper reviews of tier 1 or tier 2?
14.How many face-to-face?
15.How many remote?
What impact will the HSE position on remote assessments have on your practice?
16.Will you change your current practice?
17.Will you stop remote assessments?
18.In the absence of such an approach from HSE, would you undertake any remote assessment of vibration exposed workers?
19.Given the comment that for tier 4 assessments “relevant clinical examination being performed by the occupational physician themselves”, will you continue with clinical examination/ measurement by others, such as OHAs, technicians or other health professionals?
20.What other impacts do you envisage this HSE advise will have e.g. delivery and costs associated with surveillance?
Any further comments?
21.Further comments:
Thanks for taking the time to complete this survey.

If you have any questions, please e mail membership@som.org.uk.
Society of Occupational Medicine, 2 St Andrews Place, London, NW1 4LB