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Fitness for Work Assessments: Why They Matter and When to Use Them
Understanding when fitness for work assessments are needed and how they protect both staff and employers.
June 11, 2025
Health surveillance is one of those terms most managers have heard of, but not everyone fully understands. At its core, it’s about looking after the people who keep your business running, while meeting your legal duties. At OccuMed, we’ve seen how a well-structured programme gives employers peace of mind and catches issues early. We've also seen the opposite, where businesses are left exposed because checks were patchy, delayed, or misunderstood.
Health surveillance is the routine monitoring of staff who may be exposed to risks such as noise, vibration, dust, fumes, or hazardous substances. In some industries, it’s a legal requirement. More broadly, it’s a practical way to check if your control measures are doing their job and whether your team is being kept safe. Think of it as the bridge between your risk assessments on paper and the real health of your people at work.
Why It Matters:
When done properly, health surveillance brings three major benefits:
- Legal compliance – Making sure you meet your obligations under health and safety law.
- Early detection – Picking up health concerns before they become serious, allowing you to act quickly.
- Trust and reassurance – Showing employees you take their health seriously and giving you clear evidence if regulators or insurers ask questions.
It isn’t about running checks for the sake of it. It’s about making sure your workforce is safe and your business is protected.
The Common Gaps we see
Across industries, we often see the same gaps: One-off checks with no follow-up. Changes in health go unnoticed over time. Generic programmes – Assessments that don’t match the actual risks of the job. Poor communication – Staff left unsure or worried about why checks are happening. These gaps can quickly weaken compliance and erode trust among employees.
How We Approach it
At OccuMed, we build health surveillance around the real risks your workforce faces. Through our client portal, we identify the right assessments for each role and make scheduling straightforward. Tests are carried out by qualified occupational health professionals, with results clearly reported back to managers. If something needs follow-up, our clinicians step in quickly with clear next steps. It’s an approach designed to take the uncertainty out of compliance and make the process as smooth as possible for both managers and employees.
Final Word
Health surveillance works best when it’s practical, consistent, and relevant to the risks your people actually face. At OccuMed, we’ve seen how the right approach not only keeps teams safe but also helps businesses feel confident they’re on top of their responsibilities. The aim isn’t to complicate things, it’s to make sure your workforce stays healthy and your operations keep moving.
