Occupational asthma is a major occupational health problem. If you detect an employee's symptons early enough and reduce their exposure you will reduce their risk of developing full-blown asthma.

Asthma health surveillance is required for any of your workers who:

• are exposed to certain substances (lsocyanates, flour dust, grain dust, glutaraldehyde, wood dust, latex, rosin-cored solder fumes, laboratory animals or glues and resins).
• substances and processes where occupational asthma is a known problem (Bakeries and food processes, beauty services, cleaning services, healthcare services, painters, repairers (including electronics), welders and woodworkers).
• are working with products labelled R42 'May cause sensitisation by inhalation' (may lead to asthma), or R42/43 'May cause sensitisation by inhalation and skin contact'.
• have a confirmed case of asthma and if your work involves a substance that can cause occupational asthma.

Recommended frequency for high risk asthma health surveillance is a baseline spirometry and annual spirometery thereafter.

Hand-arm vibration comes from the use of hand-held power tools and is the cause of significant ill health (painful and disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves and joints).

Health Surveillance for hand-arm vibration should be provided for employees which:

• are likely to be exposed above the action value of 2.5 m/s2 A(8)
• are likely to be exposed occasionally above the action value and where the risk assessment identifies that the frequency and severity of exposure may pose a risk to health
• have a diagnosis of HAV's (even when exposed below the action value)
• Recommended frequency for health surveillance for hand-arm vibration:
• annual questionnaire to check employees that need to be referred for a HAV's Assessment
• highlighted employee's sent for a HAV's assessment

Blood pressure depends on a combination of two factors:

• How forcefully the heart pumps blood around the body
• How narrowed or relaxed your arteries are.

Hypertension occurs when blood is forced through the arteries at an increased presure. Too much pressure puts a strain on the arteries and on the heart itself. This can cause an artery to rupture or the heart to fail under the strain.