Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between occupational health and occupational hygiene?
Occupational hygiene identifies and controls workplace hazards, exposure to substances, noise, and vibration. Occupational health surveillance checks whether those controls are actually protecting the people exposed to them. Synergy works across both, which is why our health surveillance is informed by hygiene expertise rather than being a standalone screening service.
Is occupational health surveillance a legal requirement?
Yes, in specific circumstances. Under COSHH Regulation 11, employers must provide health surveillance where there’s a reasonable likelihood that exposure to a hazardous substance will cause an identifiable disease or health effect. Whether it applies to your business depends on the specific hazards your workforce is exposed to.
How do I know which occupational health service my business needs?
It depends on what your workforce is exposed to: noise points to audiometry, vibrating tools point to HAVS screening, airborne dust or fume points to spirometry, and so on. The services table above maps the more common combinations, but if you’re unsure, get in touch and we’ll talk through your specific hazards.
How often does health surveillance need to be repeated?
It varies by test and by the specific hazard, some surveillance is annual, some follows a different statutory or good-practice interval. Each service page above sets out the interval that applies to that specific test rather than a single blanket figure, since one number here wouldn’t be accurate across all of them.
Do you provide occupational health services UK-wide?
Yes. Synergy delivers occupational health surveillance across the UK, with the same hygiene-led approach and BOHS-accredited team regardless of location.
