Hi Amanda
This argument is like the return of a very old friend....
Attached is some guidance from the information commissioner on this very
subject that sets out that information about workers' heath is sensitive
personal information, including "information...revealed through a medical
examination carried out as part of an occupational health or private
medical insurance scheme".
The HR manager is of course right. All of the information in HR is
confidential. However, the HR manager has missed the key point that the OH
information is confidential FROM the employer, including HR, and therefore
the proposal does not present a lawful way of controlling the data.
(See attached file:
The_Employment_Practices_Data_Protection_Code_Part_4_Workers_Health.pdf)
regards
Julian
Julian Rice
Occupational Health Manager
01482 39 1220
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Amanda Savage
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Subject
[OCC-HEALTH] Confidentiality & OH
16/04/2010 10:35 Records
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Does any have information that states (ideally legally) the difference
between Personnel, HR records being confidential & OH records containing
sensitive personal information?
Our HR department in their infinite wisdom are trying to rotate the OH
admin team with the general HR admin team which will result in the HR admin
people having free access to al employees OH records when they are working
in OH.
This causes concern for everyone in OH due to the sensitive nature of OH
records & the possibility of abuse but we have been given the blanket
statement by the HR manager that 'all HR information is confidential' and
as we are part of the HR department there is no difference between OH
records & HR records - I disagree but need some evidence they are seeing
this a my (negative) personal opinion as I do not wish to loose my
fantastic admin team rather than trying to protect the individual, my
registration and the organsiation.
PLEASE help
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