ABSTRACT
OH surveillance is about systematically watching for early signs of work-related ill health in employees exposed to certain health risks. It means putting in place procedures to achieve this. The employer or designated person will have identified those activities hazardous to health, the employees at risk and the measures taken to eliminate or reduce the risks. The International Labour Organization1 (p. 22) defined OH surveillance as:
the on-going systematic collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of data for the purpose of prevention. Surveillance is essential to the planning, implementation and evaluation of OH programmes and to the control of work-related ill health and injuries, as well as to the protection and promotion of workers’ health. OH surveillance includes workers’ health surveillance and working environment surveillance.
