completion of a questionnaire is no guarantee of early detection of
deteriorating health and would not of itself meet the criteria under Reg 11
(2) of COSHH. There are probably many reasons why someone at risk may not
wish to disclose his/her current health condition [or even associate his
condition as being work-related].
lung function testing is about as near as you will get to an objective
assessment of a person's health [assuming exposure to an asthmagen].
I am aware, however, that in other industries [the bakery industry, for
example] this approach is not necessarily accepted - and it would be useful
if someone from that industry could explain why reliance on patch testing
and the use of questionnaires is widely adopted.
Dennis M
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