Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Fit Testing • Physical Hazards • RSI

Health Surveillance

Term from Occupational Health industry explained for recruiters

Health Surveillance is a system of ongoing health checks required in workplaces where employees are exposed to health risks like noise, chemicals, or physical strain. It's different from general health check-ups because it specifically focuses on work-related health risks. Think of it as a regular monitoring system that helps identify early signs of work-related health problems before they become serious. Companies use this to make sure they're following safety laws and protecting their workers' health. This might include hearing tests for noisy environments, breathing tests for dusty workplaces, or skin checks where chemicals are used.

Examples in Resumes

Implemented Health Surveillance programs for 500+ employees in manufacturing settings

Managed annual Health Surveillance assessments and maintained confidential records

Coordinated Health Surveillance and Occupational Health Screening activities across multiple sites

Typical job title: "Occupational Health Nurses"

Also try searching for:

Occupational Health Advisor Health Surveillance Technician Occupational Health Practitioner Workplace Health Nurse Industrial Health Nurse Occupational Health Screening Officer

Where to Find Occupational Health Nurses

Professional Associations

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you set up a health surveillance program for a large manufacturing company from scratch?

Expected Answer: Should discuss conducting risk assessments, identifying workplace hazards, establishing baseline health checks, creating schedules for regular monitoring, setting up record-keeping systems, and ensuring confidentiality of medical information.

Q: How do you handle resistance from management about health surveillance costs?

Expected Answer: Should explain how to present business case showing legal requirements, cost benefits of prevention vs. treatment, impact on productivity, and potential costs of non-compliance with health and safety regulations.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What records need to be kept for health surveillance and for how long?

Expected Answer: Should know about maintaining confidential medical records, legal retention periods (typically 40 years), data protection requirements, and proper documentation of health assessments and results.

Q: How do you determine which employees need health surveillance?

Expected Answer: Should explain risk assessment process, identifying hazardous activities, understanding exposure levels, and knowing when legal requirements make surveillance mandatory.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic components of a health surveillance check?

Expected Answer: Should describe typical elements like questionnaires, basic health checks, frequency of assessments, and understanding when to refer to more senior practitioners.

Q: How do you maintain confidentiality in health surveillance?

Expected Answer: Should discuss basic principles of medical confidentiality, secure record keeping, and understanding what information can be shared with employers versus what must remain private.