WO2008038025A1 - Health and work monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system which allows healthcare and working operating conditions for personnel of an organisation to be monitored and, when necessary, taken into account in the allocation of work tasks for said personnel to perform on behalf of the organisation. The invention is particularly of use for an organisation employing a number of different personnel who may change in identity relatively frequently and/or frequently move locations as they perform working tasks for the organisation. The system can also be used to track the health of a person to help the organisation meet health and safety requirements.

Description

Health and Work Monitoring System

The invention to which this application relates is a method which allows healthcare and working operating conditions for personnel to be monitored and, when necessary, taken into account in the allocation of working tasks for certain personnel. The invention is particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, of use for an organisation employing a number of personnel who may move locations as they perform working tasks for the organisation. The system tracks the health of operators to help the organisation meet health and safety requirements and prevent litigation against the organisation.

The provision of health and safety regulations continues to increase within many different working environments such as, for example, the construction industry. Part of these provisions and, the general requirement of organisations to look after the health interests of their workforce, means that there is an increasing pressure to ensure that personnel are not provided with working tasks which may be hazardous to themselves and/or their colleagues . However, due to the transient nature of many personnel, which is increasing, it is also becoming increasingly difficult to keep accurate records and/or indeed have any record of the condition of the health of the said operators.

The lack of accurate health records can mean that personnel are given work tasks to perform, which they are perhaps unable to perform due to health problems or physical disabilities and which may, as a result, that the working task is not performed efficiently or correctly, that the health of the person undertaking the task, is put at risk and/or the health and safety of other personnel is put at risk. This is unsatisfactory and, in addition to the risks to personnel, can lead to severe financial implications for the organisation if it is found that they were negligent in giving said person the working task in the first place.

Furthermore, the need for information to be provided in an organised manner is particularly prevalent with regard to large organisations where personnel change frequently and/or personnel may move between different sites within the organisation. There is therefore a need to ensure that information relating to that employee, is allocated correctly to them and can be used in assessing whether the employee is capable of performing certain tasks within the organisation.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a method whereby the health records of personnel can be provided in an efficient manner, in a manner to allow the same to be referred upon the allocation of work tasks and also be updated to take into account the impact of events which occur during the personnel's time with the organisation. The system tracks health to help meet health and safety regulations and prevent litigation against the organisation.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for allocating worktasks to personnel of an organisation said system comprising the steps of generating a database in which a health record history for each person working for the organisation, said record history initiated when the person joins the organisation, assessing the health record history for the person and allocating a risk indicator to the record based on predetermined parameters, compiling a database in which the work tasks required to be performed by the personnel on behalf of the organisation are held, allocating a risk indicator to each of said work tasks and wherein upon allocating a work task to a person within the organisation, reference is made to the risk indicator for the person's health record and the risk indicator for the work task and these indicators are used to reach a decision as to whether to allow the particular work task to be allocated to that person or not.

Typically, the system is automated. Once data has been inputted the risk factor will automatically be generated on the to be viewable by interested parties such as at a nurses station.

In one embodiment, the risk indicator used for the health record for the personnel, is similar to that allocated for the work tasks so as to allow a relatively simple comparison to be achieved, thus minimising the time required to allocate the work tasks as typically the system will be as automated as possible.

For example, if a work task has a high risk indicator and a person's health record has a high risk indicator, then that person will not be allocated that work task and the work task will instead be allocated to another person who has a lower risk health indicator. The person with the high risk health indicator can then be allocated a work task which has a lower risk indicator.

Typically, at the time of employment or contract with the organisation, the person will be required to provide a health record and data representing that health record will then be input into the organisation method as described herein to generate the historical record for the person. If required, health screening takes place and is monitored. When a particular test is required the system automatically warns the nurse. Preferably, the person will be provided with an ID number or other identification means such as a swipe card, which they are required to input or use each time they start a days employment or contract with the organisation. This will ensure that firstly, the person's presence within the organisation is known, secondly, the location of the person within the organisation is known and thirdly, if anything occurs during the work task, which would affect that person's health record, this will also be known. Also the time spent working for the organisation is included and if the person is contracted, this information can include the on and off times of the contractor.

Thus, in the preferred embodiment, even if the person moves locations within the organisation, that person's details will still be known and available.

Typically, records are kept showing health and safety records and the time scale over which the operative has worked for the organisation.

Typically, the method includes the ongoing monitoring of the health of the personnel such that any change in their health condition, will be input into the appropriate health record, and if required, the risk indicator for that person can be altered. The risk indicator may be increased if, for example, the person has suffered an injury or can be reduced if a person's medical condition is being better treated or has been overcome.

Typically, if the person requires medical attention during their time with the organisation, the nurse or other representative will input a daily treatment sheet which will then be automatically assessed and the risk indicator for each operative moved up or down accordingly.

Typically these details will only be available to selective personnel within an organisation. Preferably, the system is secured with only the appropriate persons given access i.e. site nurse. Typically, upon each work task being allocated to personnel, the indicator for the personnel in question will be referred to as the indicators may change as the records are updated.

In one embodiment, if the records indicate that a person will benefit from particular medical assistance, the person can be informed and, if they approve, their medical advisor can also be informed and subsequent action can be taken to provide the medical attention.

Typically, the system is constantly updated to the latest health and safety executive guidelines and to ensure all Health and Safety Acts are incorporated regarding health and testing.

In one embodiment of the invention, the system includes obtaining information relating to at least one feature of the work experience of an employee and assessing the work experience when allocating and/or deciding whether to allow the performance of work tasks by said employee.

In one embodiment, in addition to the work experience and/or health history of the employee, the work task which is to be carried out is assessed with respect to the severity of the work task with respect to one or more criteria, and this is taken into account when allocating the work task to an employee.

Thus, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a system which allows the health characteristics, work experience characteristics and/or work task characteristics to be taken into account prior to allocating a particular work task to an employee. In one embodiment, an indicator is allocated to each of these characteristics such that only when the indicator is acceptable for each of the three characteristics, can the task be allocated to the employee.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of generating health record data referred to allocating work tasks for said personnel, said method comprising the steps of; compiling a health record history for each member of personnel when they join the organisation, allocating a risk indicator to each member of personnel, compiling a list of work functions which may be allocated to personnel within an organisation, assessing and providing said work functions with a risk indicator and, wherein upon deciding upon the allocation of a work task to a person, reference is made to the risk indicator for the person's health record and risk indicator for the work task and these indicators can be used to reach a decision as to whether to allow the work function to be allocated to that person.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figures I a and b illustrate, in schematic manner, two methods in accordance with the invention; and

Figures 2a to d illustrate various forms which can be used in conjunction with the invention.

Referring now to the invention, there is provided a system and method for the means of tracking an individual's health record wherever that person may be within an organisation. In one embodiment, the method can be provided in a computer system with selected access available to certain personnel within the organisation which ensures confidentiality of health record details held on the system. The system can also be used as a means to prevent fraudulent claims by personnel.

The method includes a central database 2 shown in Figures I a and b, which allows links to each site location 4 within the organisation. Additional links may also be provided to other locations such as for example a General Practitioner 6 and/or hospitals 8 as shown in Figure I b. Thus, the system is designed to provide the required information regarding personnel employed by the organisation, regardless of their particular location within the organisation environment.

To instigate the method and system, the database 2 needs to be generated. This is achieved by inputting historical data relating to health matters of each of the personnel employed or contracted to the organisation. Thus, upon a person coming under the employment of the organisation, that person will be required to provide to the organisation a health record. Data relating to that health record is then input into the database and allocated to that person. On the basis of the information received, an automatic analysis of the person's health risk is undertaken and an indicator is generated and allocated to that person such that when the persons details are retrieved from the database, the indicator will also be readily apparent.

In the example shown, the indicators 12 are provided as a traffic light system whereby a green indicator indicates a low risk health record, amber indicates a medium risk health record and red indicates a high risk health record and one such indicator on a display screen 9 is shown in Figure 2a where the person whose details are sought, has generated a red indicator. Figure 2b illustrates one example of a form 10 which may be required to be completed by the personnel at the time of being employed or contracted to the organisation.

Figure 2c illustrates a form 14 which may be generated if it is indicated from the historical data received that ongoing medical assistance is required and this form can be used to provide medical instruction to the operative in terms of what they are required to do in relation to the ongoing medical condition and in order to meet the organisation's requirements to allow them to be continued to be employed or contracted.

Preferably, in addition to the health care history, the database also includes information 16 relating to work tasks 18 at each of the locations. These work tasks are those which can be allocated to personnel and, as part of the invention, the work tasks are also grouped in accordance with a risk indicator 20. Preferably, the same risk indication means are used as with the health risk so as to provide a common and more easily discernable indication. Thus, in accordance with this embodiment, those tasks which are of low risk are given a green indicator, of medium risk, a yellow indicator and high risk, a red indicator and Figure 2d illustrates this analysis having been performed.

Thus, when allocating work tasks to personnel, for each particular person, reference will be made to this health risk indicator 12 and also to the indicator 20 for the work task in question. If, for example, two red indicators are generated, then the person will be prevented from starting work on the work task at least until medical advice is given and a decision can then be made as to whether the person is capable of performing the work task. It should be appreciated that instead of individual work tasks, the analysis may be made with regard to particular site locations such that, for example, a particular site may be given a high risk indicator which would mean that a person with a high health risk, may be prevented from accessing and working on that site altogether.

In order to allow the system to work effectively, personnel are preferably given a swipe card or an identification number which they must carry round with them and use upon entering a site. Any persons with a high risk indicator will be instantly highlighted at the nurse's station and, in certain instances, the persons may have to report to the nurse's station before they are allowed to work at that site and, if necessary, further instruction will be given to that person on an ongoing basis. This acts to protect or minimise any chance of injury from a person's medical past and also protects other officers from the possible accident that can happen as a result of the high health risk.

Typically, the system can be used on an on-going basis to track injuries which happen to personnel on site and, furthermore, to alter a person's health risk indicator as a result of any accidents that occur.

The information which is held on a database, can also be used for other purposes. For example, analysis of the injuries which occur can be used to highlight particular sites 22 of concern (see Figure Ib) or parts of the body which are at risk 24. For example, if a series of head injuries are found to occur, then the safety measures which are undertaken in relation to tasks which have a risk of head injury, may be altered in order to attempt to reduce the number of head injuries. Furthermore, the system can be used to generate information and send the same to interested third parties, such as other health authorities and/or a person's GP so as to provide an ongoing indication of the person's activities and also if there are any particular problems.

In one embodiment, there may be provided a document which is required to be filled in within a given time period such as daily, weekly or the like which shows which personnel have been treated at a particular site, the treatment they received and these details are then input into the database and allocated to the relevant personnel. There may also be provided a monitoring information sheet which shows when personnel have been tested and when they are next required to be tested in accordance with their own medical criteria and/or health and safety criteria.

In a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a means whereby indicators can be allocated to indicate characteristics of the person's health, the person's work experience and/or the work task and this information held on a database. This information can be used to highlight, for example, if the employee has been carrying out the particular work task previously; and to indicate whether it is acceptable for the person to be allocated the work task. If the health indicator is also acceptable and the work task is identified as an acceptable construction task, then the employee may be allocated the task. However if the experience of the employee and/or the construction process indicators are not sufficiently good for the employee then the employee may be instructed to undergo further training prior to being allocated the task.

In one embodiment, the ability of the employee with regard to the work experience characteristics, may be graded such that for example, if the employee has performed the task in the previous 6 months then they are allowed to be allocated the task; if they have not performed the task in the previous 6 months but have done so in the 6 months prior to that, then they may be provided with further training and if they have not performed the task for more than 12 months then they may be prevented from performing the task indefinitely or at least until an acceptable level of training has been provided.

Typically the work task indicator, is provided to assess whether or not the person is deemed to be capable of performing the task based on, perhaps, previous reports which have been received and/or the ability to perform particular tasks, with regard to particular features such as for example the height of the task, the particular tools to be used such as vibration tools or the like.

Typically, the information relating to the work task, the work experience of the employees and indeed the health history of the employee can initially be obtained using questionnaires typically during an employee's induction process . The information obtained from the questionnaires can then be placed into a database which can then be accessed upon the subsequent allocation of work tasks for the employee. Furthermore, as the employee performs tasks for the organisation, the database can be updated. This system can thereafter be repeated for each employee in the organisation and therefore build up a valuable database of information.

In one embodiment the work experience, health condition and work task features are each respectively provided with an indication means, which allows a visual representation to be provided. In one embodiment, the visual indication is a plurality of different colours, with one colour, for example green, allocated to an acceptable level of each feature, a second colour, for example amber, allocated if there is an issue to be aware of, and a further colour, for example, red which indicates that the employee should be prevented from being allocated a task because of the condition of that feature.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, there is provided a readily and visually discernable indication of whether or not an employee should be allocated a particular task with the indication typically available to be viewed on a display screen upon the input of that employee's name into a database.

It should also be appreciated that this invention is of use in any type of organisation particularly those which are required to comply with health and safety regulations such as, for example, a construction industry employer.

Thus, and in accordance with the invention, the ability to provide the work experience and/or work task information, in addition to the health history, as detailed, represents a significant improvement to the allocation of work tasks to employees and therefore provides improved safety to the employees and also improved health and safety considerations for the organisation.

Thus there is provided a system which can be constantly updated to the latest health and safety requirements and is also updated regularly with regard to the health of the operatives employed by the organisation thereby providing a dynamic system which is used to generate and provide indicators of the health risks of the operatives and the potential risks of work tasks which may be allocated to the operatives, thus leading to a safer working environment.

Claims

Claims

1. A system for allocating worktasks to personnel of an organisation said system comprising the steps of generating a database in which a health record history for each person working for the organisation, said record history initiated when the person joins the organisation, assessing the health record history for the person and allocating a risk indicator to the record based on predetermined parameters, compiling a database in which the work tasks required to be performed by the personnel on behalf of the organisation are held, allocating a risk indicator to each of said work tasks and wherein upon allocating a work task to a person within the organisation, reference is made to the risk indicator for the person's health record and the risk indicator for the work task and these indicators are used to reach a decision as to whether to allow the particular work task to be allocated to that person or not.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the databases are compiled and stored in a electronic memory.

3 A system according to claim 1 wherein once data has been input he data parameters are processed and the risk indicator is generated with respect to known health parameters and characteristics and allocated to that persons health record on the database.

4 A system according to claim 1 wherein the health records database is also provided to be available to be viewed by organisation personnel for the organisation so as to allow instant access to health records for a person in case of injury.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the range of risk indicators used for the health record for the personnel, is similar to that allocated for the work tasks.

6 A system according to claim 1 wherein the risk indicators generated for the work tasks are used to indicate the risk of injury to persons performing the work task and/or specific problems and/or requirements relating to the performance of the work task.

7 A system according to claim 1 wherein at the commencement of employment or contract with the organisation, a person will be required to provide their health record and data representing that health record will then be input into the organisation database.

8 A system according to claim 7 wherein health screening may be performed on the person.

9 A system according to claim 8 wherein the system includes a database to which the input data is compared and if particular screening or tests are required based on the historical data or a particular job for which the person is employed this is automatically indicated.

10 A system according to claim 1 wherein each person is provided with a unique ID which is required to be input into the system each time they perform a work task with the organisation.

11 A system according to claim 1 wherein there is performed ongoing monitoring of the health of the personnel such that any change in their health condition, will be input into the appropriate health record, and if required, the risk indicator for that person can be altered.

12 A system according to claim 1 wherein if a person requires medical attention during their time with the organisation, details of the treatment are added to the database which will then be assessed and the risk indicator for each operative moved up or down accordingly.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system includes obtaining information relating to at least one feature of the work experience of an employee and assessing the work experience when allocating and/or deciding whether to allow the performance of work tasks by said employee.

14 A system according to claim 1 wherein the work task which is to be carried out is assessed with respect to the severity of the work task with respect to one or more criteria, and this assessment is taken into account when allocating the work task to an employee.

15 A system according to claim 1 wherein the health characteristics, work experience characteristics and work task characteristics are assessed prior to allocating a particular work task to an employee.

16 A system according to claim 15 wherein an indicator is allocated to each of these characteristics such that only when the indicator is acceptable for each of the three characteristics, can the task be allocated to the employee.

17 A method of generating health record data referred to allocating work tasks for said personnel, said method comprising the steps of; compiling a health record history for each member of personnel when they join the organisation, allocating a risk indicator to each member of personnel, compiling a list of work tasks which may be allocated to personnel within an organisation, assessing and providing said work tasks with a risk indicator and, wherein upon deciding upon the allocation of a work task to a person, reference is made to the risk indicator for the person's health record and risk indicator for the work task and these indicators can be used to reach a decision as to whether to allow the work task to be allocated to that person.

18 A method according to claim 17 wherein the method includes the steps of obtaining information relating to at least one feature of the work experience of an employee and assessing the work experience when allocating and/or deciding whether to allow the performance of work tasks .

19 A method according to claim 17 wherein the method includes the steps of assessing the work task which is to be carried out with respect to at least one criteria, and this is taken into account when allocating the work task.

20 A method according to any of claims 17-19 wherein the method includes the steps of assessing the health characteristics, work experience characteristics of a person and the work task characteristics prior to allocating a particular work task to a person.

21 A method according to claim 20 wherein an indicator is allocated to each of these characteristics such that only when the indicator is acceptable for each of the three characteristics, can the work task be allocated to the person.