What is occupational health?

 

Occupational health is a medical discipline focused on the mutual relationship between workers’ health and the work environments. Occupational health professionals provide support for employers and employees throughout the employment journey, from pre-placement assessments to ill-health retirement.

Our aim is to guide employers and employees in reducing the risks of work-related diseases and injuries and promoting safe, sustainable workplaces.

Occupational health assessments and guidance assist employers in assessing workers’ fitness for their roles, addressing health needs in the workplace, and facilitating smooth returns to work after illness or injury. For workers with health concerns, we provide advice, signpost relevant resources, and liaise with GPs or consultants to coordinate medical and workplace support.

With occupational health guidance, the managers and HR departments are empowered to make informed decisions about employees’ suitability for a role and to consider necessary workplace support, including workplace adjustments recommended by occupational health.

 

Mandatory occupational health

Occupational health surveillance is compulsory in certain sectors and job roles. Statutory health surveillance is required by law for workers exposed to asbestos, ionising radiation, lead, substances hazardous to health (e.g., carcinogens, asthmagens, infectious agents, respiratory or skin irritants), or workers with vibrating tools. Safety-critical roles such as professional driving, mining, or offshore work often require health clearance to ensure workers are fit to perform their duties safely.

 

Advisable occupational health

In the UK, Employers have a legal duty to ensure a safe and healthy working environment under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA). Occupational health adds significant value, from health, safety, financial, and operational perspectives.

According to ACAS, occupational health support helps employers control risks to workers’ physical and mental health. ‘occupational health is useful for employers who may need help with health-related workers’ problems, e.g., ill physical or mental health affecting employees at work, prolonged sickness absence or return to work after sickness absence, improve attendance levels, seek advice about reasonable adjustments for disabled workers, and other health and safety regulations (ACAS: Using Occupational Health at Work).ACAS

More specifically, occupational health guidance enables employers to:

✦ Proactively assess and support workers’ health and well-being

✦ Promote workplace safety

✦ Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation

✦ Maximise productivity, reduce absenteeism and presenteeism,

✦ Increase job satisfaction,

✦ Improve staff retention

✦ Reduce direct and indirect costs of ill health at work.

 

Occupational health professionals

Occupational health services are provided by occupational health physicians, doctors specialising in workplace health, and specialist nurses (OH advisors). These professionals work closely with employers and employees to provide guidance on employees’ fitness for work and recommended workplace adjustments. We also support compliance with health and safety regulations to promote safe and healthy workplaces.

 

WorkAble Occupational Health

At WorkAble Occupational Health, we offer comprehensive support for both employees and employers throughout the entire workplace journey, from pre-placement medical assessments to guidance on ill-health retirement:

Pre-placement Health Assessments

We conduct confidential new starter (pre-placement) health assessments to provide advice on fitness for work and recommend workplace adjustments for work candidates with specific health needs. These assessments enable employers to make informed decisions regarding workplace support or redeployment where appropriate. If applicable, we advise employers on the applicability of the Equality Act 2010 to consider reasonable adjustments for candidates who may have a disability under the Act. More information...

Occupational Health Consultations

We provide occupational health consultations (management referrals) to assist employers in managing health problems at work, prolonged sickness absence or return to work after illness or injury. More information...

Statutory Health Surveillance

Our HSE-appointed doctors carry out statutory health surveillance for workers exposed to specific occupational hazards, including:

§ Asbestos (licensed and notifiable non-licensed work)

§ Ionising radiation

§ Lead

§ Hazardous substances under the COSHH regulations

§ Hand-transmitted vibration

§ Noise (assessment for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss).

§ Compressed air work.

Fitness for safety-critical work

We provide medical assessments for HGV/LGV drivers (DVLA Group 2 standard), assessments of fitness to work offshore (OEUK / OGUK medicals), fitness to work at heights and in confined spaces, rail/train driver medicals, and fitness for work in mining industries.

Additional occupational health services

Our additional services include advice on medical indications for redeployment or ill-health retirement if a long-term impairment has permanently affected a worker’s ability to discharge their employment duties.

To address wider health needs at work, we offer bespoke services such as workplace health promotion sessions and risk assessments.

 

More information

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