Practical respiratory checks for employees exposed to workplace dusts, fumes and other airborne hazards. We’ll help you plan a programme around your risks, sites and working patterns.
Respiratory health surveillance helps identify early signs of work-related breathing problems, so employees can receive advice and employers can review their exposure controls. It forms part of managing respiratory risk; it does not replace measures to prevent or control exposure.
Examples may include exposure to:
Wood dust and flour dust.
Welding fumes, silica dust and metalworking fluids.
Isocyanates, resins, adhesives and spray-paint products.
Industrial cleaning agents, chemical vapours and other respiratory sensitisers.
Biological agents, laboratory-animal allergens and certain agricultural exposures.
Fibres and other airborne materials where a risk assessment identifies respiratory risk.
The exact programme should be based on the substance, process, level of exposure and the effectiveness of controls.
Your COSHH assessment is the starting point. Surveillance may be needed where employees work with substances or processes that can cause respiratory disease and there is a continuing risk despite control measures. Examples include work involving wood or flour dust, isocyanates and other respiratory sensitisers. The checks should reflect the particular substance, task and level of risk.
If you’re unsure which employees to include, we can help you review the information you have and plan an appropriate approach.
Clarity delivers respiratory surveillance when your risk assessments or COSHH reviews identify work with respiratory sensitisers or other relevant hazards, using consistent questionnaires and testing protocols based on established guidance.
We use on‑site clinics, mobile medical units and, where appropriate, clinic network access to minimise downtime, travel and disruption while maintaining coverage for exposed workers. Assessments are scheduled to fit around shifts and operations, not the other way round.
Our reporting is clear, structured and designed to support follow‑up action. You receive outcomes that highlight any concerns, recommendations for adjustments or further investigation, and evidence to support internal governance and regulatory scrutiny.
Respiratory surveillance can be integrated with other services such as health surveillance for noise or vibration, safety‑critical medicals and management referrals, creating a more coherent, cost‑effective occupational health programme.
A programme may begin with a questionnaire and an assessment of respiratory health before exposure starts, or as soon as possible afterwards. Ongoing checks can ask about new symptoms and include spirometry—a lung-function test—where appropriate. The frequency and combination of checks depend on the hazard and clinical advice.hse.gov+1
Spirometry provides useful information about lung function over time, but a result on its own does not diagnose occupational asthma or another respiratory condition. If a concern arises, we can arrange clinical review and advise on further assessment or referral
We can arrange health surveillance at your workplace, through mobile medical units or at local clinics. Together, we’ll choose an approach that suits your locations, shift patterns and workforce availability.
Choose the delivery model that works best for your organisation:
Planned health-surveillance sessions at your workplace
Practical delivery for busy, remote or multi-site workforces
Accessible local appointments for employees across the UK
Employees receive their results and any relevant advice.
Employers receive appropriate surveillance outcomes and workplace recommendations, such as whether exposure controls or respiratory protective equipment may need review. Confidential clinical information remains private.
Clear employee outcomes and appropriate recommendations.
Identification of symptoms or lung-function changes that may need closer review.
Recommendations to review exposure controls, respiratory protective equipment, training or work practices where relevant.
Further clinical assessment, investigation or referral where appropriate.
Management reporting and trend information to support ongoing review of respiratory-health risk.
Early identification of concerns can help employers act promptly, review control measures and support employees before symptoms become more serious.
Whether you’re starting a programme, responding to a COSHH assessment or reviewing existing arrangements, tell us about your workplace and the employees you need to cover. We’ll help you work out a practical next step.
Respiratory health surveillance is a programme of health checks for employees exposed to substances or work processes that may affect their lungs or airways. It is designed to identify early signs of work-related respiratory ill health, support timely action and help employers review whether exposure controls are working.
It may be needed where employees are exposed to a substance associated with a recognised respiratory disease or adverse health effect, it is possible to identify early signs and reduce the risk of further harm, and workplace conditions make the effect reasonably likely to occur. The decision should be based on the COSHH assessment, the substance or process, exposure level and control measures.
Employees may need respiratory surveillance where they work with respiratory sensitisers, irritants, dusts, fumes, vapours, gases, fibres or other airborne substances that may affect lung health. This may include roles involving wood dust, flour dust, welding fumes, silica, isocyanates, resins, metalworking fluids, cleaning chemicals, laboratory animals and agricultural materials.
The programme may include a baseline questionnaire, respiratory and exposure history, symptom reviews and spirometry where appropriate. Employees with symptoms, concerning results or relevant exposure history may be referred for further clinical assessment or advised on workplace adjustments.
Spirometry is a lung-function test that measures the amount and speed of air an individual can breathe out. It can provide useful information about lung function and help monitor change over time as part of an appropriate occupational health programme. It is not a standalone diagnostic test for occupational asthma, COPD or other respiratory conditions.
Frequency depends on the type and level of exposure, the COSHH assessment, the employee’s role and clinical advice. A baseline assessment is normally completed before or soon after exposure begins, with regular review afterwards. Annual testing is common for higher-risk exposure, though other schedules may be appropriate.
Clarity provides respiratory surveillance nationwide through on-site clinics, mobile medical units and local clinic appointments. We will help you choose an approach that works around your sites, workforce size, shifts and operational requirements.
Yes. Respiratory surveillance information is handled under clinical-governance and data-protection arrangements. Employees’ medical information remains confidential, while managers receive appropriate outcome and workplace-action information rather than full medical records.
Tell us a little about your workforce and what you need help with. We’ll call you back to talk through your options and the most practical way to deliver them.
Tell us your workforce size, locations and main risks. We’ll recommend a practical delivery model and respond within one working day.
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