What is Occupational Health?

Simply put, Occupational Health (OH) is the study of the effect of work on health and of health on work. The aim is to keep people in good health and at work. It can reduce ill health and accidents and should improve employee morale and performance.

OH includes:

The identification and assessment of the risks from health hazards in the workplace, including environmental factors and working practices which may affect workers’ health.

Advice on the design of work-places, equipment and materials used at work and information, training and education, on safety, hygiene, ergonomics and protective equipment.

Recruitment services including defining standards of fitness required for specific roles, the assessment of candidates medical suitability through new employee questionnaires, screening and medicals and “baseline” measurement of key health indicators.

It also includes the surveillance of workers' health in relation to work, for example, hearing and lung function testing and systems designed to monitor and reduce short-term and long-term sickness absence including occupational rehabilitation.

Providing advice and support for the promotion of a "healthy lifestyle" is becoming increasingly important to many organisations seeking to work with their employees to improve their health and remain fit for work. However, OH does not seek to replace the treatment provided by an employee’s GP or through private medical insurance.

We provide suitable and appropriate health advice, in order that informed decisions can be made by management on any individual’s work issues.

The occupational health needs and screening requirements will be unique for every company as all operating environments are different. Services can be tailored to your company’s specific needs allowing you to prioritise service delivery.