What is occupational health

Occupational health is a branch of medicine. It examines how work affects health and how health affects work.

Our primary aims are to keep employees healthy and safe, prevent work-related illness and manage issues in the workplace.

We support employers and employees to make informed decisions about fitness for work and workplace adjustments.

We provide support throughout the employment journey, from pre-placement assessments to ill-health retirement.

Occupational health doctors and nurses provide independent medical advice. We support employers and employees to make informed decisions about fitness for work and workplace adjustments.

Early intervention helps employees return to work safely and reduces absence duration.

Employers have a legal duty to protect staff from workplace hazards under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and secondary regulations.

Statutory health surveillance monitors workers exposed to specific risks. This detects early signs of ill health before permanent damage occurs. Common assessments include:

Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) assessments.

Hearing checks (audiometry) for noise exposure.

Lung function tests (spirometry) for dusts or fumes.

Skin checks for dermatitis.

Work with substances covered by COSHH, e.g., including substances that may cause asthma, dermatitis or cancer (e.g. chromium).

Occupational health provides independent, written, medical guidance (occupational health reports), which usually cover:

• Employee’s conditions and relevant symptoms, treatment, advice and signposting to relevant resources, prognosis.
• Fitness for work
• Support when returning to work
• Workplace adjustments, restrictions (temporary or permanent), redeployment or ill health retirement.
• Advice on relevant laws, including RIDDOR and the Equality Act 2010.

The employees must consent to referrals. They can also review the OH reports before they are released to employers in accordance with medical consent regulations and UK GDPR.

Safety-critical roles involve high risks and require rigorous medical clearance to ensure safety of workers and that of others.

We provide medicals for regulated industries:

• Offshore energy: OEUK medicals (formerly OGUK) for oil and gas workers.
• Renewable energy: Wind turbine medicals (GWO standards) for technicians.
• Construction: Safety-critical worker medicals.
• Transport: D4 medicals for HGV and LGV drivers.
  

The advice helps managers to make informed decisions about employees’ suitability for a role and to consider necessary workplace support.

Advice on fitness for office work and non-safety-critical roles can be provided after a pre-placement or preemployment assessment.

We provide the following occupational health services:

• OEUK / OGUK offshore medicals, safety-critical medicals and wind turbine medicals.

• Statutory health surveillance for workers exposed to specific occupational hazards (asbestos, ionising radiation, HAVS Tier 4 medicals).

• Occupational health consultations (management referrals) and new starter (pre-placement) health assessments.

As a peripatetic occupational health doctor, we provide OH services at client sites.

We offer bilingual OH assessments in English and Polish.

More information about the role and the mission of occupational health is available from the Society of Occupational Medicine, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development:

Occupational Health: Line Managers and HR Guide, The Society of Occupational Medicine

Occupational Health: The Value Proposition, Dr Paul Nicholson

Occupational Health Guide, The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development