Control
Medical Surveillance
Health surveillance and medical follow-up for occupational risks.
Documents
- 202513 Nov
Noise exposure standards guidance note
Guidance for offshore petroleum dutyholders on statutory noise exposure limits and reducing risks to ALARP. It explains ear-position measurement, instrument calibration, source reduction, hearing-protector selection and attenuation calculations, audiometric surveillance and reassessment. It also addresses enforcement and recommended acoustic benchmarks for accommodation and support areas on fixed and mobile facilities.
- 2025Nov
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
An offshore inspection guide for assessing dutyholders’ COSHH arrangements and legal compliance. It uses a Plan, Do, Check, Act framework to examine risk assessments, engineering controls, respirator fit testing, exposure monitoring and health surveillance. Performance descriptors link inspection findings to enforcement expectations and help prioritise future regulatory interventions.
- 202521 Aug
Avoiding fatigue guidance note
Guidance for offshore petroleum duty holders on preventing and managing workforce fatigue within the regulatory framework. It examines sleep debt, circadian rhythms and interacting organisational factors, outlining layered fatigue risk management through staffing, roster design, sleep opportunities, screening and training. It also addresses handovers, interrupted sleep, incident investigation and monitoring of barrier performance.
- 2024Jun
Asbestos Management
Inspection guidance for assessing offshore dutyholders’ asbestos management arrangements. It addresses legal duties, management plans, licensed and non-licensed work, training, exposure controls and medical surveillance. Checklists and enforcement benchmarks support compliance assessment and performance scoring, while distinguishing administrative shortcomings from evidence of health risk.
- 202416 Apr
Lone worker collapsed at onshore site
A lone worker at an onshore workshop collapsed because of a pre-existing, non-work-related medical condition and was discovered the following day. The flash examines delayed alarm raising and absent personnel tracking, highlighting lone-working risk assessment, medical screening, health surveillance and consideration of automatic fall alarms.
- 20238 Sep
Welding Hazard Alert
This alert addresses welding fume exposure in the oil and gas industry, including respiratory and neurological harm from toxic metals. It presents open-air manganese exposure findings and outlines employer and worker responsibilities for air sampling, local exhaust ventilation, training, respiratory protection and chromium-related medical examinations.
- 20231 Jul
Small boat crew exposed to FPSO process water discharge (fumes and aerosol)
Deck crews supporting diving at a live FPSO developed symptoms after exposure to process-water fumes and aerosols. Increased discharge and changing wind conditions were not adequately communicated or recognised. The flash describes stopping work, medical examination and follow-up, and calls for improved briefings, risk assessment and consideration of discharge diversion.
- 2023Apr
Noise and Vibration
Inspection guidance for assessing offshore dutyholders’ management of occupational noise and hand-arm vibration. It combines inspection questions, performance scoring and enforcement expectations with discussion of engineering controls, tool selection, exposure-time management, hearing protection and health surveillance. It distinguishes hearing protection from noise control and addresses sustained regulatory compliance.
- 2023Jan
Exposure to diacetyl vapour in food and drink manufacture
This safety alert addresses harmful diacetyl vapour exposure in food and drink manufacture, particularly coffee roasting and grinding and heated flavour mixtures. It sets out workplace exposure limits, risk assessment, sampling, substitution, temperature reduction, enclosure and extraction, with conditional respiratory protection and health surveillance. It also flags carbon monoxide in coffee processing.
- 2021
Controlling noise at work
Guidance explains employer duties under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations and methods for assessing and reducing occupational sound exposure. It prioritises technical and organisational controls, covering quieter procurement, acoustic treatments, hearing-protector selection, noise measurement, exposure calculations and audiometric surveillance, with practical examples and questionnaires.
- 202021 Oct
Findings from Pandemic Management Risk Based Inspections
BSEE summarises inspections of selected offshore operators’ COVID-19 management plans, examining screening, quarantine, protective equipment and response arrangements. Findings highlight gaps in minimum staffing, protection of critical roles and realistic drills. Operators are advised to consider broader infectious-disease planning, effective screening, safe staffing and the psychological effects of extended offshore rotations.
- 20203 Mar
Statement on COVID-19 from UAE ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation
This safety flash reports UAE restrictions on travel to Iran and Thailand amid COVID-19 outbreaks and changes to Dubai’s case definition. It describes precautionary personnel movement restrictions at Dubai Petroleum Establishment and Dubai Supply Authority, including pre-entry questionnaires, temperature checks and referral for further evaluation.
- 2019Mar
Hand-arm vibration
Guidance explains employers’ hand-arm vibration duties, exposure assessment and practical ways to reduce risk through process redesign, suitable tool selection and maintenance. It covers daily exposure calculations, vibration measurement, the limitations of anti-vibration gloves, and tiered health surveillance, including clinical assessment of HAVS and vibration-related carpal tunnel syndrome.
- 201818 Dec
Suspected case of Legionella onboard vessel
Two severe pneumonia cases on a survey vessel prompted suspected Legionella investigations, medical evacuation and testing of all personnel. Cabin and ventilation cleaning, water-tank treatment and quarterly shower-head chlorination were arranged. Subsequent medical results identified acute respiratory infection rather than Legionella, with no confirmed Legionella disease onboard.
- 2018
Working with ionising radiation. Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017. Approved Code of Practice and guidance
Approved Code of Practice and accompanying guidance explain employers’ duties for work with ionising radiation under IRR17. The second edition addresses regulatory authorisation, radiation risk assessment, exposure restriction, designated areas and local rules, dosimetry, medical surveillance, contingency planning and radioactive-source management, incorporating amendments made by the medical-exposure regulations.
- 201712 Dec
Four hand and finger injury incidents
Four cases cover hand-arm vibration exposure, crushed fingers during manual frame handling, glove entanglement in a metalworking lathe and hand trapping in printing rollers. The flash discusses shortcomings in exposure limitation, health surveillance, manual-handling assessment, safe working methods, machinery guarding, training and supervision.
- 2015Oct
Managing risks from skin exposure at work
HSE guidance explains how workplace substances and wet work can damage skin or cause systemic illness. It covers hazard recognition, task-based exposure assessment, avoidance and substitution, engineering measures, protective glove selection and skincare. Industry case studies illustrate prevention, while regular skin checks support early detection of occupational disease.
- 201510 Aug
Uncontrolled exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAVS)
This safety flash summarises an HSE prosecution concerning uncontrolled hand-arm vibration exposure in motor vehicle repair workshops. Up to 25 staff faced unrestricted handheld power-tool use. The account identifies absent tool replacement arrangements, inadequate maintenance, missing vibration-risk instruction and no health surveillance for early signs of HAVS.
- 201410 Apr
Decompression illness (DCI) incident during routine decompression of divers from saturation
A saturation diver developed mild decompression illness during planned decompression. Recompression, therapeutic breathing gas and observation resolved the symptoms, with no recurrence during subsequent decompression. Investigators attributed the incident to individual physiology but could not confirm hydration. Recommendations address daily health and hydration checks, bag searches and declaration of personal supplements.
- 2013Dec
Managing and working with asbestos
Approved Code of Practice and guidance accompanying the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It addresses management in non-domestic premises and licensed and non-licensed asbestos work, covering assessment, planning, training, controlled wet stripping, respiratory protection, decontamination, clearance, exposure monitoring, medical surveillance and waste handling.
- 2013
Control of substances hazardous to health (Sixth edition)
This sixth-edition Approved Code of Practice explains COSHH duties for preventing and controlling occupational exposure to hazardous substances, including biological agents. It addresses assessment of exposure routes, selection and maintenance of controls, respiratory protection, exposure monitoring, health surveillance, training and emergency arrangements, distinguishing statutory requirements from supporting guidance.
- 2011Jul
OFE1 - Food safety and hygiene
Guidance for offshore installation catering managers on food hygiene and workers’ health. It addresses galley layout, segregated storage, refrigeration and blast chilling, temperature monitoring, site-specific HACCP arrangements, cleaning and personal hygiene. Protective equipment, maintenance checks, food-handler medical examinations, dermatitis surveillance and training requirements are also covered.
- 2011Mar
OCE1 - Preparing surfaces for painting
Guidance for offshore surface preparation using wet and dry blasting and power tools. It addresses dust and hazardous coating constituents, specifies respiratory protection factors, and covers ventilation, equipment checks, exposure monitoring, cleaning and dermatitis surveillance. Ultra high-pressure jetting is excluded.
- 2011Mar
OCE19 - Pressure cleaning – external structures
Guidance for pressure washing external areas on offshore installations addresses harmful mists and associated skin and respiratory effects. It covers particle RPE with an assigned protection factor of at least 20, protective clothing, equipment testing, decontamination, dermatitis surveillance and supervision. Ultra high-pressure water jetting is excluded.
- 2011Mar
OCE2 - Painting by brush/roller
This offshore COSHH sheet addresses mixing and applying solvent-based paints by brush or roller, excluding water-based paints. It describes general and forced ventilation, conditional respiratory protection, chemical-resistant gloves, spill handling and waste decontamination. It also covers asthma and dermatitis surveillance, skin care, training and supervision.
- 2011Mar
OCE20 - Sewage system maintenance
Guidance for emergency maintenance and repair of offshore foul water systems addresses infection, skin disease and respiratory risks from sewage. It covers general ventilation, protective clothing, conditional respiratory protection, equipment and personal decontamination, health surveillance, training and supervision, with an employee checklist supporting safe working practices.
- 2011Mar
OCE21 - Laundry
Guidance for laundering contaminated work clothing on offshore installations addresses hazardous residues, cleaning chemicals and dermatitis from wet work. It covers segregated washing, detergent substitution and dispensing, general ventilation, protective gloves, machine maintenance, housekeeping and skin care, alongside dermatitis surveillance, worker training and supervision.
- 2011Mar
OCE22 - Cleaning accommodation and facilities
Guidance for offshore accommodation and facilities cleaning addresses chemical exposure, dermatitis and breathing problems. It describes ventilated storage, safer product selection, automated dispensing, cleaning schedules and protective gloves. Low-level asthma and dermatitis surveillance, personal hygiene, training and supervision support the recommended control approach.
- 2011Mar
OCE23 - Cleaning up body fluids
Guidance for offshore dutyholders on clearing body fluids and reducing infection risks and exposure to cleaning chemicals. It addresses residue removal, detergent washing before disinfection, clinical-waste handling, protective clothing and buddy-assisted decontamination. Personal hygiene, wound protection, skin checks, training and supervision support the recommended working practices.
- 2011Mar
OCE24 - Cementing
Guidance for offshore well cementing addresses exposure to cement dust, wet cement and additives. It covers chemical storage, job planning, equipment checks and pressure testing, alongside respiratory and skin protection. Cleaning, decontamination, personal air monitoring, dermatitis surveillance and worker training support the recommended exposure controls.
- 2011Mar
OCE25 - Well servicing – chemical injection
This offshore COSHH sheet addresses chemical injection during well servicing and coiled tubing operations. It describes chemical exposure and nitrogen hazards, with guidance on planning, protective equipment, line testing, exposure monitoring and dermatitis surveillance. It also covers spill handling, waste disposal, decontamination, training and supervision.
- 2011Mar
OCE26 - Drilling waste treatment
This offshore information sheet addresses skin and respiratory exposure during drilling waste handling and treatment. It describes enclosed cuttings transport and storage, ventilation, skip shipment and injection-system checks, alongside cleaning, skin care, dermatitis surveillance, training and supervision. Recommendations support COSHH assessment and exposure reduction.
- 2011Mar
OCE3 - Painting by spraying
Guidance for offshore solvent-based paint mixing and spraying, excluding water-based paints. It addresses extracted habitats, clearance times, enclosed gun cleaning and air-fed respiratory protection. Measures include protective clothing and gloves, equipment examination, personal and biological exposure monitoring, and asthma and dermatitis surveillance, supported by training and supervision.
- 2011Mar
OCE4 - Soldering
Guidance for offshore dutyholders on controlling rosin-based solder fume during soldering and desoldering. It describes extracted enclosures and high-velocity low-volume tip extraction, alongside solder selection and iron temperature control. It also covers extraction maintenance and testing, protective gloves, hygiene, asthma surveillance, training and supervision.
- 2011Mar
OCE5 - Insulation – installation
Guidance for removing mineral-fibre insulation on offshore installations addresses dust exposure and skin irritation. It describes restricted access, wet removal, Class H vacuum cleaning, particle respirators and disposable protective clothing, alongside equipment examinations, waste handling, decontamination, dermatitis surveillance and worker training. Asbestos and refractory ceramic fibre work are excluded.
- 2011Mar
OCE7 - Pigging operations
This offshore guidance addresses exposure control during pigging, including benzene, hydrogen sulphide and radioactive residues. It describes receiver depressurisation and venting, gas monitoring, conditional respiratory protection, protective clothing and cleaning arrangements. Maintenance, personal exposure monitoring, dermatitis surveillance and worker training support the recommended controls.
- 2011Mar
OCE8 - Mixing of drilling muds (sack room)
Guidance for controlling chemical exposure during offshore drilling-mud mixing in sack rooms. It addresses substitution, enclosed hoppers, extracted sack opening, bulk transfer and conditional respiratory protection. Further measures cover extraction testing, personal air monitoring, cleaning, skin care, dermatitis surveillance, training and supervision.
- 2011Mar
OCE9 - Use of drilling muds (shale shaker and mud pit areas)
Guidance for offshore dutyholders on reducing exposure to drilling mud liquids, mists and vapours during handling, sampling and cleaning. It covers shaker enclosures, mud pit extraction, filtered protective cabins, respiratory and skin protection, ventilation testing, exposure monitoring and dermatitis surveillance. Mud making is excluded.
- 2011Mar
OCM7 - Health surveillance
Guidance for offshore dutyholders on health surveillance associated with hazardous substances. It covers programme planning, baseline assessments, testing frequencies, questionnaire screening and professional interpretation of results. Responsibilities for employers, contractors, health professionals and trained persons are outlined, alongside health record requirements, medical confidentiality and the distinction from offshore fitness medicals.
- 2009Nov
Health risk management - A practical guide for managers in small and medium-sized enterprises
Practical guidance for managers of small and medium-sized enterprises on identifying occupational health hazards, assessing risks, implementing controls and checking results. Case studies illustrate chemical exposure, noise, vibration and musculoskeletal problems. It discusses workforce involvement, health surveillance, exposure measurement, engineering controls and continuing improvement.
- 2009Sep
Management of occupational health risks in the offshore oil and gas industry
Guidance on preventing occupational ill health in offshore oil and gas work through systematic hazard identification, exposure assessment and control selection. It integrates health into installation safety management, addresses psychosocial pressures, and explains control hierarchies, exposure monitoring, health surveillance and continuing assessment review.
- 2006
Managing shift work - Health and safety guidance
Guidance for employers on assessing and managing shift-work risks, particularly fatigue and disrupted sleep. It addresses working-time duties, consultation, schedule rotation, shift length, breaks and night-worker health assessments. Practical advice for workers accompanies methods for monitoring arrangements and evaluating changes using HSE’s Fatigue and Risk Index Tool.
- Undated
Derechos de los trabajadores
Spanish-language guidance explains workers’ occupational safety and health rights, employer responsibilities and OSHA enforcement procedures. It covers confidential inspection requests, participation and citation objections, access to health records, retaliation complaints and conditional protection for refusing dangerous work, alongside state programmes and consultation services.
- Undated
Fire and explosion on bulk carrier Yeoman Bontrup
Investigation annexes examine the Yeoman Bontrup fire and explosion, including a literature review finding hydraulic oil spray ignition by the halogen lamps extremely unlikely. A safety flyer highlights active radioactive silometers and damaged shielding. Revised shipboard procedures address radiation risks, maintenance, emergency notification and health surveillance.
- Undated
Health and Safety Regulatory Regime in the UK
HSE presentation explaining regulation of onshore oil and gas through well notification, independent examination, safety documentation, operational reporting and enforcement. It follows well integrity from design to abandonment, including cement barriers and verification methods, and outlines safeguards for hydraulic fracturing and protection against respirable crystalline silica exposure.
- Undated
Occupational Allergies and Asthma in the Cannabis Cultivation and Production Industry: Fatal Facts
This alert describes a fatal asthma exacerbation in a cannabis flower technician making pre-rolls indoors. It examines worsening work-related symptoms, voluntary N95 use and allergies among colleagues. Prevention recommendations address medical surveillance, hazard assessment, exposure controls, worker education and prompt reporting and medical evaluation of symptoms.
- Undated
Risk management of musculoskeletal disorders in sonography work
This report examines musculoskeletal risk management through inspections of 32 sonography departments in 14 UK NHS trusts during 2007. It identifies weaknesses in assessment, training and health monitoring, and discusses workload organisation, paired scanning, transducer design, equipment adjustment and user involvement in developing more ergonomic ultrasound systems.
- Undated
Silica: OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert - Worker Exposure to Silica during Countertop Manufacturing, Finishing and Installation
Joint OSHA and NIOSH hazard alert examines respirable crystalline silica exposure during natural and engineered stone countertop manufacture, finishing and installation. It compares exposure findings by stone type and task, and explains wet methods, local exhaust ventilation, exposure assessment, respiratory protection and medical surveillance alongside applicable OSHA requirements.