The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Asbestos) Regulations 2010 No. 2984

Regulation 17(4)

SCHEDULE U.K. Practical recommendations for the clinical assessment of workers

1.  Current knowledge indicates that exposure to free asbestos fibres can give rise to the following diseases– U.K.

(a) asbestosis,

(b) mesothelioma,

(c) bronchial carcinoma,

(d) gastro-intestinal carcinoma.

2.  The doctor and/or other medical authority responsible for health surveillance must be familiar with the exposure conditions or circumstances of each worker. U.K.

3.  Health examination of workers should be carried out in accordance with the principles and practices of occupational medicine. It should include at least the following measures— U.K.

(a) keeping records of a worker's medical and occupational history,

(b) a personal interview,

(c) a general clinical examination, with particular reference to the chest,

(d) lung function tests (respiratory flow volumes and rates).

4.  The doctor and/or other medical authority responsible for health surveillance should decide on further examinations, such as sputum cytology tests or a chest X-ray or a tomodensitometry, in the light of the latest occupational health knowledge available. U.K.