NIGHT WORKERS PRE-EMPLOYMENT HEALTH QUESTIONNARE and ANNUAL NIGHT WORKERS HEALTH ASSESSMENT PACKAGES

Night Time: defined as the period between 11.00pm and 6.00am

Night Worker: defined as someone who regularly works at least 3 hours of daily working time during 11.00pm and 6.00am

The purpose of a Health Assessment is to determine whether a worker is fit to undertake the night work to which he has been assigned.

Health Assessment, as a minimum should take the form of a Health Questionnaire, which should be reviewed by an Occupational Health Physician or Nurse familiar with the employer’s business and the nature of the employees work duties.

Pre-Employment Health Questionnaire Package:

It is recommended that all existing night workers should complete a questionnaire which is specifically tailored to the requirements of the Working Time Regulations 1998. Future new employees, or employees transferring from days should also be required to complete the Night Workers Medical Questionnaire.

Supplies of the questionnaire are forwarded to the company by AMS, together with FREEPOST address labels. The completed Night Workers Health Questionnaires are returned direct to AMS, by the employees. The questionnaires are assessed by the AMS nursing staff, who will review the “fitness of night work” of the employee and report to the company and the individual, if necessary.

Where answers to the Health Questionnaire raise concerns about the workers fitness for night work, the employer should ideally refer the worker to an Occupational Health Physician or Nurse for further assessment.

The Health Questionnaire asks questions to establish whether the following health problems are present and if so, to what degree:

• diabetes (particularly where treatment with insulin injections on a strict timetable is required),
• heart and circulatory disorders, particularly where factors such as physical stamina are affected,
• stomach or intestinal disorders, such as ulcers and conditions where the timing of a meal is important,
• medical conditions affecting sleep,
• chronic chest disorders where night-time symptoms may be particularly troublesome,
• other medical conditions requiring regular medication on a strict timetable.

Night Workers Annual Health Assessments:

Existing night workers should be offered free Health Assessments and all new night workers should have the opportunity of having a Health Assessment prior to starting night work.

A night worker is entitled to the opportunity of a free health assessment at regular intervals. The appropriate frequency of repeat assessments will vary between individuals, according to factors such as the type of night work, its duration, and the age and health of the individual worker. As a rule of thumb, it would be prudent for repeat screening questionnaires/assessments to be completed annually.

AMS can offer night workers an annual consultation with nursing staff at which time any problems could be discussed. The following tests should also be carried out, in addition to the usual company health surveillance programme:

• audiometry and/or vision screening,
• height/weight check
• pulse/blood pressure
• urinalysis

Following the consultation, a full report would be given to the employee and a summary would be supplied to the company. Any relevant medical conditions noted or any problems arising would be referred to either the employee’s GP or to an Occupational Health Physician. The Night Workers Health Assessment clinics would be carried out on-site at regular intervals during the year. Ultimately when there is concern about a worker’s fitness, a Doctor must give an opinion to the employer as to whether the worker is fit to carry out the night time work to which he is assigned. If a Doctor advises that a worker is not fit for night work, the employer is obliged to transfer the worker to day work.