Health Surveillance for Radiation Workers
Enquire NowAt Health Surveillance for Radiation Workers , we provide medical monitoring for employees who are exposed to ionising radiation.
Radiation can cause serious long-term health conditions, including cancer, cataracts, fertility issues, and bone marrow damage.
Under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17), employers must ensure that classified radiation workers undergo appropriate medical surveillance by an HSE-appointed occupational health physician.
Our service ensures legal compliance, early detection of health effects, and reassurance for both workers and employers.
Request a free quote for medical health surveillance for radiation workers today.
Why Is Health Surveillance Important for Radiation Workers?
Radiation exposure can cause gradual, often invisible damage to the body, affecting blood health, reproductive systems, or vision. Many of these conditions may not show symptoms for years.
Health surveillance ensures that any abnormalities are detected early, protecting employees and demonstrating compliance with UK law.
What Does Health Surveillance for Radiation Workers Involve?
Surveillance starts with a baseline examination before an employee is classified as a radiation worker.
Follow-up medicals include blood tests, eye checks for cataracts, and reviews of radiation dose records.
Employees are also asked about symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, or unexplained weight loss. All results are reviewed by an HSE-appointed doctor and recorded securely.
How Often Should Radiation Worker Health Checks Be Conducted?
By law, classified radiation workers must undergo a medical examination at least every five years by an appointed doctor.
In higher-risk cases, or where exposure levels are significant, more frequent checks may be required.
Some employers also conduct annual wellbeing questionnaires or technician-led checks between formal reviews.
What Are the Benefits of Health Surveillance for Radiation Workers?
The main benefit is that it protects employees from radiation-related illness while keeping employers compliant with IRR17.
Key benefits include:
Detects early health changes such as blood abnormalities or cataracts.
Ensures employers meet legal requirements.
Provides reassurance to workers in high-risk environments.
Reduces sickness absence and long-term complications.
Protects businesses from enforcement action or liability claims.
What Symptoms Are Monitored During Radiation Surveillance?
Surveillance focuses on symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, nausea, persistent infections, reduced fertility, or vision changes.
Blood tests can identify abnormalities in white and red blood cell counts, while eye checks detect early-stage cataracts.
Monitoring ensures early referral to specialists if concerns are identified.
Which Industries Require Health Surveillance for Radiation Workers?
Industries where health surveillance for radiation workers is essential include nuclear power, radiography, aerospace, medical imaging, research laboratories, and manufacturing processes using radioactive materials.
Employees in these environments are at higher risk due to regular exposure to ionising radiation.
Employers in these sectors must comply with IRR17 and ensure that classified workers are under medical surveillance by an HSE-appointed doctor.
Can Health Surveillance Prevent Radiation-Related Illnesses?
While health surveillance cannot prevent exposure, it plays a vital role in detecting early signs of illness.
Regular medicals and blood tests can identify changes in cell counts, fertility issues, or cataracts long before they become severe.
Radiation assessments ensure early detection, permitting interventions such as reassignment to lower-risk duties, thereby reducing the likelihood of long-term conditions such as cancer or leukaemia.
How Does Health Surveillance for Radiation Workers Support HSE Compliance?
Employers are required by law under IRR17 to ensure that classified radiation workers undergo medical surveillance at least every five years.
By keeping records, carrying out routine checks, and acting on medical advice, businesses demonstrate compliance during HSE inspections.
We reduce the risk of enforcement action, prosecution, or reputational damage.
Are Radiation Worker Medical Records Confidential?
All radiation worker health records are stored securely and handled in line with GDPR.
Employees receive personal feedback on their results, while employers are provided only with a certificate of fitness or recommendations for adjustments.
Our medical assessments company ensures privacy is respected while still allowing employers to take necessary steps to protect their staff.
What Additional Safety Measures Should Support Health Surveillance?
Health surveillance for radiation should always be combined with strict radiation safety measures.
Employers must provide dosimeters for monitoring exposure, shielded work areas, protective clothing, and training on safe handling of radioactive materials.
Medical surveillance then acts as a complementary safeguard, ensuring these control measures are effective in preventing harm.
Is Health Surveillance for Radiation Workers a Legal Requirement?
Under IRR17, employers must provide health surveillance for all classified radiation workers.
Medicals must be carried out by an HSE-appointed doctor, and health records must be retained for at least 50 years.
Radiation assessment documentation must be kept for 50 years because of the long latency period of radiation-related conditions, such as cancer.
What is the Cost of Health Surveillance for Radiation Workers?
The cost of health surveillance for radiation workers is from £80 to £120 per employee.
Full medical examinations by an appointed doctor typically range from £150 to £250+ per employee.
The cost depends on the type of medical review and the number of staff involved.
Larger organisations can benefit from tailored surveillance packages that reduce per-person costs.
What Happens If Abnormal Results Are Found?
If abnormalities are detected during health surveillance, the employee is referred for further medical investigation.
They may be temporarily reassigned to lower-risk duties or removed from radiation work until cleared by a doctor.
Employers must review exposure controls and workplace practices to reduce risks.
How Are Records Managed for Radiation Worker Surveillance?
Health records for radiation workers must be kept securely for at least 50 years.
These include baseline examinations, blood test results, medical certificates, and exposure histories.
Records are confidential but must be available for inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) if requested.
Long-term record keeping ensures compliance and protects both employees and employers.
Schedule a Free Quote for Health Surveillance Today
At Health Surveillance for Radiation Workers , we provide legally compliant, professional monitoring programmes to safeguard workers and support employers.
Our service ensures early detection of health risks, secure long-term records, and compliance with IRR17 regulations.
Contact Health Surveillance for Radiation Workers today to arrange your workplace medical surveillance programme.
Other Services We Offer
At Health Surveillance, we offer a wide range of services; some of these include:
Health Surveillance for Skin Checks
Health Surveillance for Asbestos
Health Surveillance for Bakery Workers
Health Surveillance for Benzene
Health Surveillance for Silica Exposure
Health Surveillance for Formaldehyde
Health Surveillance for COSHH
Health Surveillance for Dermatitis
Health Surveillance for Mental Health