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.
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
pre-employment 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.